AUS peer leaders adopt new students

Peer leaders at American University of Sharjah (AUS) inducted a large number of newly-admitted students into the Emerging Leaders Program during the new students' and parents' welcome session for Spring 2012 held recently.

Outstanding rising sophomore, junior and senior peer leaders serve as role models and mentors for incoming first-year students. They demonstrate leadership characteristics and involvement in other substantive areas of university life. In addition, peer leaders promote students' involvement in various orientation activities and trips; broadening student familiarity with resources and services available on campus; helping students establish a sense of belonging to university and enhancing student knowledge of various students' activities and sports facilities.

"The Peer Leaders Program is extremely essential as it implements the AUS Office of Student Affairs' philosophy to build upon our students out-of-classroom involvement with volunteer and leadership experience, establish positive relationships with faculty, staff and peers within the program, develop and articulate transferrable skills appropriate to their personal and professional goals, enhance their communication and facilitation skills, and strengthen their personal leadership identity," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

"As a peer leader it was my responsibility to act as a guide, a mentor and a friend to our freshman peers who have just joined the university," said Jashan Jot Singh, a finance senior and a peer leader. "I along with my colleagues have been working hard to achieve our two main goals as peer leaders which are to encourage freshman students to join our leadership program and to ensure that they have a smooth transition into university life. I would like to thank the Student Leadership program for giving us this great opportunity to hone our skills as student leaders," he added.

"By 'adopting' new students and guiding them, we try our best to help them adjust to academic life. Also, we focus on immersing them into the social life on campus so that they feel more confident and become an active part of the student body," said Osama Alhasan, a civil engineering junior and peer leader.