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SPRING 2005, Volume 18, Number 3
Confessions of a Peer Advisor: Off the Beaten Path, But Still on TrackBeing a peer advisor puts me in a position to give a lot of advice. I look at students' transcripts, major requirement sheets, or lists of general education courses and tell them what I think their next step could be, or if they're headed in the right direction. But what if someone asks me what I did, or what I would do? Should I admit that I put off my required math class until my last quarter, or that most of the time I wasn't really all that sure that I was on track myself? After almost a year in my position as a peer advisor, I can say that I would be honest with them, and that every advisor should be. My first encounter with advising at UCSB was a bit of a wake-up call. I am pre- med, so during my sophomore year, I started to look for health professions advice to make sure I was on track. But, after reading one piece of advising literature, the 'Recommended Timetable for Applying to Medical School,' I felt way off. Apparently, I had already missed out on two years of volunteer work, Health Professions Association meetings, and recommended courses. I started to freak out a little. I already had a full course load working toward both a major in microbiology and a minor in Latin American and Iberian Studies that wouldn't allow for many courses outside of what was required for my degree. I had done some volunteer work for transfer admissions and outreach, the honors peer-mentor program, and giving tours for the visitor center, and I was involved in the Polynesian dance club, but I tended to do each thing for a short time, and then try something else. Was everything I had done so far a waste of time, or worse, was I backtracking rather than moving forward? Luckily, after consulting college and major advisors as well as my professors, I eventually concluded that 'recommended' timetables and guidelines are not meant to cause panic. They are there to show us one possible way to go about attaining a goal, or to serve as a checklist as we finish requirements. By no means is every student expected to be successful by taking the exact same route. It sounds obvious, but really, I donıt think it is. I genuinely thought, until recently, that I was less prepared for graduation and medical school because I hadnıt finished every single item on every checklist or because I didn't accomplish everything that I heard I should have within some set timeframe. No one told me to think that way, I just did, and I'm guessing that some other people have done the same at some point (hence my writing this article). Sure, my track record may look a little random at first glance, but everything Iıve done in college has helped me affirm my own interests and goals, and even helped shape who and what I want to be. As someone who is trusted to give advice, I can safely say that sometimes it is wisest not to take it. Not because it is incorrect or not useful, but because there is almost always more than one way to get from point A to point B. If everyone followed the guidelines exactlyfor medical school, for graduate school, for a job, or for whatever else you plan on doing after graduation every applicant would be identical. Of course, it is important to seek advice to make sure you have fulfilled every requirement, and will eventually be able to reach your goals realistically, or to find guidance when you are stuck. But beyond that, itıs just advice. Your course of action, and every step on that course that motivates you and contributes to your passion (not just your resume), makes your college education your own. I think that is far more valuable than following a beaten path thatıs already been planned out for you. |
