What is a Peer Leader?

By Chip Genung ’25

“Peer Leader” a title that has been circulating around campus, after recent applications. You may ask what makes them different from our peer facilitators? Different from the student council? Different from the prefect board? What are all these leadership positions? What do they mean? So many questions to answer. We have found ourselves surrounded by a web of positions, and slowly getting more tangled. So let me help you understand the vast leadership positions offered at Westminster. Ultimately the Peer Leader Program, started by Mrs. Hall and Mr. Rasheed, attempts to consolidate the leadership offered at Westminster. Simplifying the structure of authority for Westminster students.

New peer leaders consist of a group of thirty-three students who showed interest and applied. From there, a few were granted the opportunity to be interviewed for the position. Four of them were already peer facilitators this year; next year their position will change to peer leaders. New peer leaders range from a group of rising Sixth and Fifth-Formers. Peer leaders will take part in running home groups, and help in organizing other events, such as facilitating conversations between peers.

Additionally, any Sixth Former with the title peer leader will have to resign from the position, if they are elected to the prefect board. Though some of the prefect board responsibilities and contribution to the Westminster community overlap with peer leaders. An additional fact is, the Prefect Board and student council are entirely separate from the Peer Leader Program. Leadership is a deeply valued trait at Westminster. The many new opportunities shown throughout this article, emphasize Westminster’s commitment to leadership. If you are thinking of leading in any way, possibly consider joining one of the numerous opportunities offered by Westminster.