Alexandra Weber (Psychology)
Peer advisors are important because, unlike academic advisors, we are around the same age as the students we are advising and are going through the same situations. We are able to give advice based on personal experience.
Becoming a peer advisor has been one of my favorite experiences of being a Pitt student thus far. Helping students and faculty members is so rewarding. I really love working with students because they're so easy to relate to (since I am a student myself) and I love helping them out, knowing I made something in their life a little easier.
One of the reasons I became a peer advisor is that I thought it would be a great way to meet new people and make new connections at Pitt. Whenever I am having a bad day or feeling stressed, coming into work as a peer advisor and seeing all these people truly turns my day around. Everyone is so kind, understanding, and extremely helpful.
The peer advising internship has also given me excellent experience for what I plan to do in the future, and that is work in higher education. I've also learned how to be a leader and have gained so many required skills for any job I may have in the future.