Our First Year - Columbia College Chicago: Recent Episodes
Peer Support Program - Columbia College Chicago
The Mission of the Peer Support Program is to increase the success and retention rates of first-year Columbia College Chicago students. The program connects first-year minority and other underrepresented students with upper-class peer mentors. Peer mentors coordinate opportunities for students to become acclimated to the campus and Chicago area, as well as to develop their personal, academic, social and cultural experiences through programming and guidance. This podcast is filled with advice and experiences of students on how they navigated their transition to Columbia.
Learning to set boundaries, realizing what you can and cannot control, processing emotions, and navigating a brand new city: all of these are part of the this episode discussing the “growing pains” of being someone new at Columbia College Chicago. We are committed to growing together!
As part of our "what is it...?" series, we wanted to answer the question , “What is Title IX ?” Learn about office that supports advocacy work on campus and resources available to students.
Our mentors and guests discusses their love of k-pop of this episode! Hear how they got into the genre, what is on their minds about it today, and it impacts their lives as creative students.
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.
I’Ja Wright, a student worker at Student Diversity and Inclusion joins Peer Mentor Kacie, to share her journey of self advocacy. In this episode, I’Ja and Kacie discuss effective ways to communicate, and be more assertive in expressing your needs and emotions.
Kate from ASO joins Liv to talk about the Asian Student Organization, what upcoming events they have, and how to join.
Peer Mentor Liv discusses living in the South Loop as a Film student. She discusses a day in the life, what experiences of film students are like, how to get on set as a film student, and life in the South Loop as student who doesn’t life on campus.
Hear some of her favorites in Chinatown, Wicker Park, and Lincoln Park. (all neighborhoods Columbia visits often!)
Student Diversity and Inclusion had a discussion about prepping to visit family and friends for the holidays. This can be a difficult time for individuals who are facing homophobic, transphobic, or just terrible environments in some way. Our community talks about how we can support each other. <3
Sam Aburabah from MSA joins Liv to talk about about the Muslim Student Association and what upcoming events they have and how to join. Also talked about are some current events in the Muslim community such as the World Cup in Qatar.
Coming out of midterms and planning for the rest of the semester, the mentors discuss the big question of "how are we doing?" right now.
Being a first generation student can result in a unique experience. In this episode, two students discuss how their journey as first generation students at Columbia.
In this episode the mentors discuss how students decide to live on or off campus, how to pay for it, and how to navigate issues!
In this episode hear what it is like to be a music major and live on campus through the experience of one of our mentors, Kacie!
Winter in Chicago can bring a lot of different emotions to students. In this episode, the mentors discuss how they prepare for the season and some of the resources available to Columbia students and Chicago residents.
In this episode hear what it is like to be a senior through the experiences of one of our mentors, Alejandra!
There is more to scheduling your class than just registration. Planning for breaks, jobs, graduating on time, and how to actually have mental health days are all prioritized in this conversation around class scheduling.
During this episode our mentors answer questions the campus community had. Questions include:
1.What lingering questions do you still have about college that you're too anxious to ask someone?
2.What do you think about the city life?
3.How did your first week go?
4.What is something you wish you knew before coming to Columbia?
This episode is an introduction to what "Our First Year" will be once the school year begins. We look forward to chatting more!