Outreach Peer Ambassadors are often the first faces you see when you walk onto campus.
They are loaded with information on Grossmont College and because many are students themselves, they are the perfect resource to ask questions, get help applying and anything else new and current students need. They also have a virtual help center where it has information on where, how, and when you can reach them or even schedule a tour of Grossmont College.
We reached out to Justin Fejeran, a photography major and peer ambassador here on campus, to learn more about the Outreach Department and peer ambassadors.
Fejeran hopes to achieve a bachelor’s in photography then a master’s degree in fine arts. Once accomplishing these impressive feats, he then wants to teach photography.
It is the Outreach Department’s mission to support students and help guide them through their journey here at Grossmont College. Taking some time out of his day, Fejeran allowed us to receive more insight on the experiences of being a peer ambassador.
To learn more about the Outreach Department, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.
What do peer ambassadors do?
“We have two main jobs. The first one is when we are at Grossmont College helping people register, choose their classes, navigate our school, and give tours. Then, our other job is when we go out to events and high schools and help incoming students get started at Grossmont College, sign up, and show them the process.”
How is it being a peer ambassador?
“It is rewarding. A lot of the time you meet students, and you can tell they are completely lost, so it is nice to help. I also think it is really easy to put yourself in their shoes and understand how frustrating it is. Then sometimes you will have a student come back and have that little moment of connection.”
What are frequent questions that are asked?
“Number one is, ‘Where can I go for this?’ and that is always going to be a point towards admissions and records, financial aid, or counseling. The second one is, ‘Is parking free?’ or ‘How much is parking?’. The third most common one is from counselors asking, ‘Can you help this person register out their classes?’. They pick out the sections the student needs and then we go through and figure out what classes and times work best for them.”
What advice do you give to a new student?
“Learn new study strategies because the one in high school may not necessarily work now. In high school it is extremely easy to expect your teacher to get on you about doing your work. You do not really get that in college. College professors expect you to be independent. So, finding that time to teach yourself is important. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions. I see so many students who are afraid to ask questions and we try to engage with them, but they don’t really give us anything. Then I will see them five times a week.”
Anything else you want to add?
“If you are ever looking to be a full-time student, take classes that you enjoy. It is extremely important to take a course that you feel is fun. Often some students ask me what the easiest class is. So, they look at classes that they think will be easy, and these students often fail. The truly easy classes are going to be the ones you enjoy learning the most because it is easy to get invested. You might have forty pages to read for the week, but if you enjoy it those pages will feel like nothing.”