About three weeks ago, I received a surprise email in my inbox alerting me that I had been accepted as a Peer Advising Fellow \u2013 in Harvard lingo, I\u2019m a new PAF! While the name certainly sounds a bit intimidating, the idea is that each Harvard freshman gets assigned a PAF to serve as a peer mentor throughout their first year at school. PAFs generally have 6-10 \u201cPAFees\u201d to advise, and are expected to meet with their advisees a few times a semester to check in and answer basic questions. Last year, I found having a student perspective to be incredibly helpful in choosing classes and navigating all of the resources and events at Harvard.<\/p>\n
Competition to become a PAF is fierce \u2013 the Advising Programs Office receives about 800 applications for approximately 75 spots \u2013 and I was ultimately placed on the wait list when I initially applied last spring. That\u2019s why I was so shocked to receive a congratulatory email this spring! I thought they had entirely moved beyond last year\u2019s waiting list, and, in fact, I had just submitted my new application for this spring\u2019s cycle.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, coming in as a new PAF halfway through the year has been a bit strange. I\u2019m filling the spot of an outgoing senior, and therefore am picking up where she left off, with a batch of second semester freshmen who I\u2019ve been busy introducing myself to over the past few weeks. One of the perks of being a PAF, however, is that I get to attend \u201cstudy break\u201d once a week: all of my PAFees are assigned to the same entryway, and each Wednesday the two other PAFs and I plan an hour-long snack break for the freshmen. This week we had a chocolate themed study break, although my personal favorite so far has been burgers and fries!<\/p>\n
Over the next couple of months, I\u2019ll be helping my advisees navigate sophomore housing applications and think about potential concentrations. I\u2019m definitely looking forward to getting to know them a bit better!<\/p>\n
And, on a completely unrelated note, I also went to see Harvard\u2019s Hasty Pudding Theatricals show this week. Hasty Pudding is an all-male theater troupe that performs (largely) in drag every spring, and their shows are always HILARIOUS. It\u2019s a long-standing Harvard tradition \u2013 this year was the 163rd<\/sup> show! I\u2019m including a photo below, but if you want more info check out their website<\/a>!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/collegeadmissionsstudentblog\/files\/2011\/02\/060241_1246133_538x356-300x198.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo Credit: The Harvard Crimson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"