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When Drew DeGeorge graduates from �鶹��ý in May 2025 and enters the job market, he will be able to draw on the strong leadership and public speaking skills that he gained from the P.E.E.R. Success Academy program.

The P.E.E.R. (Peer Experiential Education and Reflection) Success Academy, which is a 2-credit-hour course, is designed to train students to cultivate and nurture critical skills. The course serves as a foundation for peer educator and peer leader positions across Kent State.

DeGeorge, an accounting major from Uniontown, Ohio, recently spoke with Kent State Today about why he got involved with P.E.E.R. Success Academy.

In each class session, students engage in reflective learning with their peers that will allow them to assess their potential, skill development and performance throughout the course. P.E.E.R. Success Academy is part of Student Success Programs.

Jianna Kaczmarkiewicz, a sophomore majoring in architecture, said she enrolled in the P.E.E.R. Success Academy course to meet other students with leadership aspirations from various programs across campus and to take a break from some of the higher-stress courses specific to her major. She adds that the course has given her valuable insights into herself, taught her about emotional intelligence and effective mentoring.

“The lessons aren't just for being a mentor, but also for growth in how we react, take care of ourselves and interact with others,” said Kaczmarkiewicz of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. “A huge part of the course is interacting with peers from different disciplines, which has helped me gain diverse perspectives and develop a more well-rounded approach to leadership. This course truly offers the perfect mix of professional and personal development, as well as great social connection.”

The course is led by two undergraduate P.E.E.R. Success Trainers who guide students through immersive experiential learning that allows them to create peer-to-peer relationships and cultivate skill development.

DeGeorge took the course in the spring of 2023 during his sophomore year. By the fall of 2023 he was training to become a trainer.

“I wanted to become a trainer because I was not great at public speaking,” DeGeorge said. “It was terrifying for me. I wanted to push myself to be able to facilitate in front of a classroom. As classes went on, it has become second nature to me. I’m more excited to facilitate the content.”

Morgan Robinson, associate director of Student Success Programs, said the skills learned in the P.E.E.R. Success Academy will follow students throughout their careers.

“One of the things that we tell our trainers is that you are training the future leaders of Kent State and beyond,” Robinson said. “We have a diverse group of students who take the course, so they’re interacting with students who have different personal and social identities and different perspectives. They learn group dynamics and conflict management, and when they learn this content in the classroom, they get time to practice. But then when they’re, out of Kent State and in their first jobs I’m hoping that they can think back to the skills that they learned in the P.E.E.R. Success Academy and apply them.”

The course also encourages students to engage in self-care. During a recent class session students broke up into groups and junior Connor Piotrowski and sophomore Andrew Gold guided the students through an exercise called the Wise Choice Process, which is six steps to use as a guide for responsible decision making.

In addition to leadership and self-care, P.E.E.R. Success Academy helps students find a peer group that they connect with.

“When I arrived at Kent State I didn’t have a community,” said Alayna Howell, a junior public relations major from Broadview Heights. “I was quiet and introverted, and I felt alone. Through the P.E.E.R. Success Academy, I made new friends and gained job positions on campus. Now I am training to be a Peer Success mentor.”

Kaczmarkiewicz plans on becoming a trainer so that she can pay it forward.

“I want to impact others in the same way as it has helped me,” she said. “By becoming a trainer, I hope to share the valuable lessons I’ve learned and support others in their journey towards their own personal and professional growth.”

Learn more about the P.E.E.R. Success Academy.