Here’s one thing about Broad Run High School: we don’t “do community” halfway. Our school is overcome with opportunities to get involved. From club meetings Wednesday morning to athletics year round to theater in both fall and spring, there really seems to be something for everyone. Today, we’re shedding light on one of these “somethings.” Broad Run’s PEER program meets every 3rd block in Mrs. Wiggins’s room 123, and the door is open for everyone. Everyone, that is, who knows about it. But… I’m sure you’re wondering. What exactly is PEER? Is it… a club? A class? What is it for? What does it do? Is it only good for college applications, or is there something deeper about it? Is it just like SCA? And what’s up with the new “rebrand” of PEER?
Firstly, PEER is an acronym that stands for “Positive Experience in Educational Relationships.” In short, it’s a class group of fifteen students here at Broad Run who have applied and been interviewed to join the program. These students are then trained in how to help their peers through difficult times and are encouraged to stand up for the positive wellbeing of our school’s community. But then what is the appeal of PEER? If it’s just to have someone to talk to, we have a plethora of incredible, reliable resources at Broad Run already: a school psychologist, a social worker, your teachers and your counselors. Senior Abby Jaimon, a third-year PEER, chimes in, “I think [PEER] is super important because… me personally, if I have a certain problem, I don’t really want to talk to adults about it. It always feels like they’re lecturing me… but in reality, I’m going through these issues right now, and I need someone who’s recently gone through these issues to help me with it. I want to be that person for other people as well.” This topic she addresses, having someone your age who you can relate to, is one of the main objectives of PEER. We want everyone at Broad Run to have someone they feel comfortable and safe with. But what else does PEER do?
Another big part of the PEER program is conducting monthly campaigns, such as this October’s Domestic Violence Awareness campaign or the more popular “Finesse Your Stress” week that comes later in the spring. This is where things get a little bit mixed up with other programs at Broad Run, such as SCA. SCA does bake sales. PEER does bake sales. If they’re both baking food for us, what’s the difference? When asked this, Zyreign Jacobo, a member of SCA, shared her opinion, “I feel like SCA brings more of the traditions to the school, while PEER… helps students more mentally and emotionally, and [is about] having someone to talk to and having company.” She went on, “SCA plans school events, like homecoming and pep rallies, [while] PEER has events like the PEER week where you bring the therapy dogs.” This hits the nail on the head: SCA brings up school spirit as a whole, while PEER brings up the individual mental and emotional aspects of the students who make up our school. But then, if PEER is so important and is doing so many things behind the scenes… why don’t people know what it is?
To kick off this school year, we had what we called a “rebrand” for our PEER program, which really centers on our new logo. The previous logo was designed in a way that was cute and encompassed the idea of what we do as a class and resource, but the new logo created by Lance McCullah, who is working to become a graphic designer, feels more modern and inviting without taking away any of the program’s personality. When addressing this change, Abby says, “I think that it’s really important that we had our rebrand because I think it makes us more accessible. Our old [brand] was kind of… outdated… it made us look more formal, when in reality we are people who just want to be relatable to everyone.” As the owner of our Instagram page (@broadrunpeer), Abby also goes on to explain that, “We’re your peers, we want to be on your level and everything, and we are on your level. So… we should have our logo and our [Instagram] account reflect that.” And this change is already creating a noticeable improvement in the program’s outreach! Addison Alberts, a sophomore here at Broad Run, comments, “Last year I didn’t know what PEER was, but this year I’ve heard a lot about it.” That’s exactly the point of our new logo and new brand: to be accessible, so that as many people as possible will know about this resource and understand what it does.
Whoever you are, wherever you are in your life, and whatever you’re going through, you’ve got a friend in PEER. And we’re not just open as a resource – come spring, when application season rolls around, we’d be ecstatic to see any of you coming in for interviews. But in whatever way you need us, our goal is to let you know that we’re here for you. Addison says, “I feel like [PEER] would be a helpful tool that if I need to, I could go to,” and Zyreign agrees, “If I ever need a student to talk to, I will definitely use the resource… and I can also tell my other friends about it.” The main takeaway you should get from this article is that PEER isn’t exclusive. Even if you’re just up stressing about tests at 2 a.m, feel free to find our website and request a PEER. No emotions you’re feeling are too big or too small, so never be afraid to reach out for any reason. We’re a program at Broad Run, accessible to everyone at Broad Run, and made up of a student body that wants the best for Broad Run.
