Transitioning into college life can be fun and exciting, but it comes with plenty of challenges too. At TLU, Peer Mentors can help ease the way for first-year students by offering support and guidance, helping to facilitate and plan orientation activities, and attending all FREX (Freshman Experience) classes with first-year students.
This year’s group of Peer Mentors arrived on campus in the heat of summer, ahead of incoming students, in order to train and build a sense of teamwork. Led by Sierra Smith, TLU’s Director of First Year Experience and Student Transitions, Peer Mentors have been hard at work all semester.
“As a FREX Peer Mentor, I help guide first-year students through the transition into college life, academically, socially, and personally,” said Michelle Lopez, a junior majoring in business administration and a second-year Peer Mentor. “I’m there to answer questions, offer support, and be someone they can rely on. During my first year as a mentor, our professor emphasized public speaking, which I love, so I was able to help students build confidence and skills in that area. Beyond the classroom, I’ve built lasting connections. Many of my former FREX students still reach out to catch up or ask for advice, which means a lot to me.”
One of Lopez’s former FREX students is Conner Petty, now a junior, majoring in computer science and applied physics. “My peer mentor was especially helpful, not only with adjustment into college life, but also with learning the skills that I needed to be successful,” Petty said. “Before I met my peer mentor, I didn't know how to do even the most basic of actions on the TLU portal, but now I know how to navigate it like a fourth-year student.”
Petty added that Lopez was also helpful in connecting him with others. “I was introduced to friends and peers who have stayed with me throughout my time at TLU. Without a doubt, my peer mentor has been pivotal in helping me become the TLU student I am today and I'm sure that I wouldn't be that student without her.”
Alaina Fugate, a first-year student majoring in business administration, agrees. “This year i would be so incredibly lost without my peer mentor Michelle. She has helped me navigate through Brightspace, informed me about upcoming events, given me guidance through projects, helped me start planning for my next semesters, and the best part is, she has given me and many other freshmen a safe place to go to in case we are ever in need of assistance!”
"The Peer Mentors are a valuable resource for incoming students throughout their first year,” said Dr. Brian Coulombe, associate professor, Athletic Training program director, and FREX director. “Freshman students have access to their own mentor who helps connect them to the Bulldog community and identify the resources and opportunities available to TLU students.”
Lopez said the Peer Mentor program is incredibly valuable—both to first-year students and to the Peer Mentors themselves. “It’s not just about mentoring—it’s about growing alongside your students,” she said. “What surprised me most was how much they taught me. I learned to be more patient, to listen deeply, and to understand that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up, being present, and supporting someone else’s journey with empathy and encouragement.”
To become a Peer Mentor, TLU students must have strong academic and discipline standings, have demonstrated their commitment to TLU through leadership and involvement, and come highly recommended by faculty and staff.
FREX 134: Exploring the Arts and Sciences is a three-hour credit course designed to usher first-year students into TLU’s multigenerational community of learning.