25 years of Caring - CityU Peer Counsellor Training Programme
Contributors: Ms. Holly Wong (Counselling Service, SDS); Ms. Angel Kwok and Ms. Jenny Li (CityU Alumni)
The CityU Peer Counsellor Training Programme, since its inception in 1992, aims to train a group of students every year to support their peers and cultivate a caring ambience on campus. In 2016, in order to further enhance caring service in the university community and to better fulfill the diverse needs of students, the Caring League was established comprises five student volunteers teams including Peer Counsellor, Mental Health Ambassador, Inclusion Ambassador, Positivity Ambassador and City Mover. In this anniversary year, CityU Peer Counsellor alumni, Angel and Jenny, walk us through their unforgettable journey of being a Peer Counsellor and invite students to join the Programme which they experienced as definitely beneficial to one’s psychological wellness and personal growth. Jenny, Li Yu Ying Graduated from CityU in 2016, Major in Psychology CityU Peer Counsellor in 2013/14 [Current PhD Student (Counselling Psychology), State University of New York at Albany]
The Peer Counsellor Training Programme has a far-reaching impact on my career development. Not only did I learn about using micro-counselling skills with appropriate counselling attitudes, I also experienced the power of counselling for the first time, being able to truly in touch with my own emotions and address them properly. This training helped me enhance my self-awareness and become more empathetic. It inspired me to be a hotline counsellor at a student guidance center and to train peer counsellors at a smoking cessation hotline after graduation. I found it highly fulfilling to facilitate self-understanding of others and empower people to make their own life choices. Hence, I decided to pursue further studies in counselling psychology. In the future, I would love to have the chance to train peer counsellors and inspire them to pursue their dream career! - Jenny Li Angel, Kwok Sei Wai Graduated from CityU in 1995, Major in International Business Studies CityU Peer Counsellor in 1993/94 [Current Corporate Human Resources Director, Hop Lun HK Limited)]
Joining the 2nd Peer Counsellor Training Programme organised by Student Development Services in 1993 was one of the highlights of my university life and career development. Through the workshops, activities, self-reflection sessions and service to schoolmates, I learnt peer counselling knowledge and skills and most importantly I understood myself better and what I needed to change. This self-exploration journey was invaluable to me. With all I have learnt from the Programme, I furthered my postgraduate studies in Guidance and Counselling. I also made an important decision on my career development - changing my career from Business Administration to Human Resources, a more people oriented field. I’m still very grateful to CityU for having offered me such a wonderful programme. I would encourage students to grasp every chance in the university to explore more and to take up more challenges. They may be surprised to find something unexpectedly great waiting for them!- Angel Kwok #25yearsofcaring
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