During my first two months of school, I felt lost in my new environment. Shy and outside my comfort zone, I didn’t interact with anyone during my first week of school. I just went to class and went home. But one day, my professor told our class about the Office of Mentoring Programs, which houses the Peer Mentor Program. I was hesitant to connect with a mentor, but I thought about it for a couple of days and told my parents about it, and they encouraged me.

I didn’t realize then how much this program would change my college experience. During my first year, I slowly came out of my shell. My mentor at the time was also a first-generation college student, so she knew what it was like to feel lost in college. She made me feel not so alone and walked me through so many things that would improve my time at Weber State: how to manage my time, ways to get plugged in on campus, and pushing me to get to know people by going to various WSU events. It was nice to have someone to talk to and just knowing someone was there for me.

After my first year in the program, I decided I wanted to become a mentor myself, to help other students find that sense of belonging like I did. I’ve now been part of the program for five years, holding various positions — from mentee to peer mentor to peer mentor lead, and now as their student marketing manager.

It’s an amazing team that functions a lot like family. Olga is the director of mentoring programs, Eduardo is the faculty and staff mentoring coordinator, and Andrea is the peer mentor program coordinator. Together, they’ve helped me grow and become a better person.

It’s such a contrast, who I was back then and who I am today. I used to hate public speaking, but now I’ve gained confidence speaking in front of others. I used to let shyness inhibit me but now enjoy talking with people, learning about them and building relationships with them. I used to be unsure about myself, but now I know I’m more resilient than I thought. Ultimately, this program helped me know who I am and, maybe just as important, who I want to become.

These dedicated people are one of the reasons I committed to staying in school. Without them, without this program, I would have dropped out. The turning point was knowing there are people on campus who care about me and want to see me succeed. They’ve challenged me to not only do better in school but also in my personal life. Each of them have, at one time or another, talked to me about things happening in my life, listening and giving advice when I needed it. When I felt like I couldn’t do school anymore, they were there to discuss the pros and cons of dropping out and would support me with whatever decision I made. Thankfully, they helped me realize what I ultimately wanted: to stay in school and get my degree.

Since then, I’ve had more chances to grow as a student and professional, like leading a discussion for a College Reading and Learning Association conference in San Diego. I’ve also been able to present in various settings on campus, including for the Peer Mentor Program, which has bolstered my confidence and developed even more skills, such as networking, adaptability, communication, problem solving, managing busy schedules and so much more.

Everything I’ve learned I can now use in my life and professional career. I’m looking to work in the realm of public relations, still exploring what part of that world to pursue, or perhaps something in design or marketing. Whatever I do, it will be thanks to the amazing people at WSU, especially the big-hearted people in the Peer Mentor Program. They truly care about what they do, and I can attest to the hard work they put into every student. I’m forever grateful for how they’ve shaped my story.

Chanell Sosa is studying communications with an emphasis in strategic communication and public relations at Weber State University. She is a first-generation college student who was born and raised in Ogden.