PeerForward Alumni like Brendy Pastor Lux continue to inspire and support their peers long after their Workshop. This week, our Alumni Spotlight is on Brendy, a student at the University of Southern California pursuing a Linguistics and Cognitive Science major and a Speech-Language and Hearing Profession minor. We caught up with her to ask about her college experience thus far and discuss why she chooses to serve as a PeerForward Alumni:
Why do YOU serve?
I serve as a Peerforward Alumni because Peerforward was one of the programs that helped me during high school as a First Generation student. As an Alumni, I want to be able to give back to rising seniors who are taking that step to become a Peer Leader, which isn’t an easy task. We all come from different places, but Peerforward allows us to come together as one big family.
What has been the best part of college so far?
The best past of attending USC (University of Southern California) are the cultural centers. As a commuter the cultural centers allow me to feel as if I live at USC. Being able to go into the Latinx Cultural Center ‘La Casa’ I feel at home especially because USC is a PWI. In La Casa I can go in and study, heat up my food, get coffee, nap in a napping pod, or just chat while with friends.
How did PeerForward change your perspective of college?
Peerforward changed my perspective of college because it taught me that there isn’t only one option for my postsecondary plan. In Peerforward I was taught there are many different education systems that I could pursue, whether it being an occupational center or a four year college.
How have you been a positive influence on your peers in college?
I think I’ve been a positive influence to my peers in college by helping them out as a cultural ambassador for La Casa the Latinx Cultural Center. As a cultural ambassador, I help my peers when they need resources whether it’s how to find them on campus or just giving it to them because we offer it in La Casa.
What’s one piece of college advice you’d offer Peer Leaders?
The college advice I’d offer the Peer Leaders is to not stress too much, especially if they are going to attend a school with a big campus. Everyone is going through different stages in life, so don’t ever feel like you’re “falling behind.” There’s no right way to do college.
Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.
