Hello, my name is Damita McCluster and I am a Peer Advisor.

A Peer Advisor is like a student assistant but they are an Other Personnel Staff (OPS). Peer Advisors usually hang around in the lobby to answer questions and assist students with whatever they need regarding signing up for classes, financial aid, or things in general. They know most of the general knowledge for students because they are students themselves. They also go through training along with Academic Advisors to have better knowledge of the programs and registration process. To be a Peer Advisor in St. Petersburg College, you must have the general knowledge of MyCourses, MySPC, financial aid and other resources. You must also have a GPA of 2.5 and up (preferably 3.0 and higher). Also, you must have the patience and the ability to be flexible in helping students and staff, always stay positive and be pleasant, even if the student is not towards you.

I started out as a Student Assistant in work study in May of 2014. I did clerical work as well, assisting staff on projects. Around January of 2015, something happened where I was supposed to be terminated due to financial issues (I’m not sure what it was exactly, but it wasn’t my fault), but they kept me and made me into a Peer Advisor. It was a big change from what I normally do, and I admit I was nervous at first. But with the help of the other Academic Advisors and the training, I started to become more aware of what the college has to offer to students. I’m still learning as I come to work and assist students, and there are times where I get stumped or do not particularly know the answer which angers or annoys students. But I still do my best, ask a lot of questions to the staff about certain situations, and learn from my mistakes. The thing that is wonderful about being a Peer Advisor is to make a student feel better after getting what they need done. To me, it’s an accomplishment into becoming a better advisor. I have a long way to go, but every day is a new task to encounter and succeed.

If you are interested in being a Peer Advisor at any of the St. Petersburg College campuses, you can go here. To work as a student worker, you first need to ensure that you meet the qualifications. To see qualifications and complete the application, visit this St. Petersburg College student employment site.

Good luck!