Almost a year ago in the winter of 2019 I was accepted to be a peer educator for the incoming 2020 Honors students. The position involved me teaching a class of nine Honors freshmen. I developed all of the lesson plans and activities, reflected on each class experience and found ways to improve each day, and helped to mentor these students as they began their college journey in the same way that I also began three years ago.

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My experience of being a peer educator is just one of many that I could use to represent everything that college has meant to me: everything that I have given to and taken from these past few years. From the start I have prioritized growing as a person, constantly pushing myself to develop my weaknesses and hone my strengths, and to pursue things that make me uncomfortable. In return I can honestly say I have become the person I have always wanted to be.

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As a freshman I struggled with a lot of things. First, I had severe social anxiety. In addition, I grew up in rural areas and had a rather unconventional K-12 education, which led me to initially struggle in UW’s unfamiliar classroom environment. I wasn’t used to learning in the way that was expected of me and as a result experienced imposter syndrome when I found it difficult to fluently discuss class concepts. I was insecure and encountered multiple layers of difficulty in navigating social circles and school resources. And, quite an important skill in university (and life), I was terrible at gathering my thoughts and voicing my opinions.

I had to put a lot of effort and discipline into overcoming these struggles, and more. Over time I saw myself gradually improve, fall back, and improve again.

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Being a peer educator was the moment I truly realized how far I’ve come. In three years, I am an entirely different person – all in the best ways. I’m confident in approaching people first, in leading conversations, in asking for help when I need it. I’m better at thinking on my feet and making quick decisions, at retaining complex information, at coming up with ideas and following through on them. Every experience that I’ve had at the UW has been a key stepping stone to these improvements.

 

I feel confident graduating and going out into the world. Even if I don’t have a job set up and even though nothing’s entirely secure by any means, both in my own life and the world, I’m looking forward to the journey. At the end of these three years, I feel safe in the hands of the person I’ve become.