As Stevenson students prepare for upcoming final exams, R.E.A.L. peer educators are providing activities to help students escape from the stress.

“We know the week before finals is extremely stressful,” said Boggs. “Peers want to provide you with a free event that could help you with stress reduction. You may meet new people and make new friends, and you can take your mind off the exams for a few hours.”

R.E.A.L AIMS TO RELIEVE STRESS

R.E.A.L., which is short for Responsible Education Awareness Leaders, will host a “Holiday and Paint” event in the Rockland banquet hall on Dec. 9. The event, which will be held from 4-7 p.m., was conceived by R.E.A.L. in conjunction with Stevenson nurse practitioner, Brenda Boggs. Since Boggs has been working at Stevenson for three years, she recognizes the stress brought on by finals week. She said that students “need to have a balance, to be able to cope with stress before finals, and a good way to do that is through stress relievers.”

The event includes sand art, coloring activities, snacks, and relaxing music. The peers look forward to having 25 to 50 guests in a casual setting. Once students arrive, they can spend time at any of the tables hosting color and painting activities.

R.E.A.L ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO APPLY

According to Boggs, “There’s usually a few things going on every week involving the peers.” Each program is led by a team leader who works with five to 10 peers. The club, with a roster of 30 members, meets every other Friday. Students can apply for membership online and then are interviewed by Boggs to see if they are a fit for the club.

Peers get paid for their employment like in any other career, and every peer has the opportunity to become a team leader. The club has five team leader positions, and applicants again are interviewed by Boggs, along with input from club members before a decision is made to promote the peer. It should be noted, however, that any peer can lead an event if he or she displays an interest.

R.E.A.L PROMOTES EDUCATION THROUGH ACTIVITIES

Two popular R.E.A.L. events include National Alcohol Screening day, and an Escalation Workshop. During the alcohol screening, R.E.A.L. collaborates during Spring Fling to check students for signs of alcohol abuse. When students score high on the screening, R.E.A.L. tries to get them to the Wellness Center for an evaluation to help them cope with the problem. In the escalation workshop, the peers teach students how to spot the signs of abuse and sexual assault. They are also taught what to do if they or anyone they know are victims of abuse or sexual assault.

For more information on R.E.A.L peer educators, contact Brenda Boggs via email at [email protected].