Our First Year - Columbia College Chicago

A few weeks ago the Peer Support Program tabled in the Student Center and asked folks, "what support do you need from your community this semester?" In this episode Adi and Gabe discuss the themes they saw in the answers. 

As part of our "what is it...?" series, we wanted to answer the question , "what does it mean to be involved on campus?" Learn about opportunities to find community, join or start a group, and hear what we actually mean when we say to 'get involved' during your time at Columbia.

Saying goodbye to our peer mentor, Liv! Thank you for all you did for the program and our Columbia College Chicago community. 

In this episode, peer mentor Adi reflects on her day-to-day as a student worker and a music business student. She talks about her as an experience as a commuter, breaking through fears of graduating, and hopes for the future. Warning, this episode takes a sharp turn into senior existentialism by the end!

November 8th was National First Generation Student Day. Columbia hosted a celebration in the student center expressing our deep pride of our first generation community. The Peer Support Program asked attendees to offer some messages to their fellow first generation peers. 

Adi and LGBTQ Intern Aaliyah discuss National Coming Out and what the process of coming out can meet for our communities. This conversation ends with some wonderful Chicago and campus resources to support you in your journey. 

It's the start of the school year, and it's common to feel homesick during the beginning of your first year. But you're not alone! Our Peer Mentors and special guest Gabe talk about their experiences as they moved far from home to go to school at Columbia College Chicago. 

For the last episode of the year, Kacie and Liv asked students, “what would your end of year self give as advice to your beginning of year self?” This episode is full of great tips and reflections. Thank you everyone for a wonderful Peer Support year together! 

Peer Mentor Kacie recaps her week long trip to Hammelburg, Germany. As a CUP major, Kacie was given the opportunity to travel to Germany, to partake in a week-long international band/ writing camp, which was an intensive week of music, community, and making new memories

Join peer mentor Liv to talk about names and their meanings with Gabe, Aida, and Yuyi. This episode takes a deep dive into their names and how/why they exist.