Student Listeners Support Wellness

In the face of anxiety and loneliness, any Exeter student can knock on doors with blue signs to talk with Student Listeners—a unique support system by and for Exonians. Student Listeners are leaders within the dorm community specifically trained to assist others, via weekly Monday trainings and an annual retreat, held this year on Sept. 15.

Because Student Listeners are also students themselves, they are “front and center in everyday Academy life,” Associate Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Constance Morse said. Besides offering private support to their peers, Listeners can also connect students with appropriate Academy resources.

In the 1983-84 school year, former Academy counselor Patty Schwartz founded the Student Listener program. To kick off the new program, listeners sponsored several activities, including a stress workshop, to discuss under-addressed topics and to support their peers.

Since then, Student Listeners have continued to provide support to the Exeter community. Listeners also commit to attending weekly trainings on various issues pertinent to adolescence and Academy life according to Morse, a Student Listener Program Coordinator.

At the beginning, the Student Listener Program appointed between 60 and 65 Listeners. For the 2019-20 year, the program boasts 77 Listeners in addition to the Academy’s extensive support network. “Adolescents often seek help and support from peers first, so it makes good sense to have a program that helps to support those natural ‘helpers,’” Morse said.

When it first began, the Student Listener Program appointed between 60 and 65 Listeners. However, over the last couple decades, the number of Listeners per year now ranges between 75-80. “Each year the number of applicants far outweigh the number selected,” Morse said.

Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Szu-Hui Lee explained the role of Student Listeners within the Exeter community. “Student Listeners have their fingers on the pulse of how the student community is doing,” she said. “Students tend to go to other students first, so Student Listeners are really our front line support networks. This is why it is important to train the Listeners so they are prepared for how to best support their friends and also know when they should involve adults.”

Hoping to further connect and instruct listeners, program coordinators Licensed Clinician Jo Mautz and Health Education Instructor Elizabeth Hurley arranged a retreat last Sunday. The retreat, hosted at a local YMCA camp, featured field games, water sports and an optional high ropes course.

Morse elaborated on the benefits of the retreat. “It’s a wonderful way to get to know the other Listeners, build teamwork and have great fun just 15 minutes from campus,” she said. “The activities are meant to integrate themes of trust building, self care, supporting each other and one’s peers as well as strengthening the camaraderie of the group.”

In addition to “build[ing] a stronger community within the Student Listening group,” the retreat was also geared towards “finding ways to get out of your comfort zone and build confidence in yourself as a student listener,” senior and Student Listener Giovanna Romero said.

According to Romero, interacting with other Student Listeners improves one’s own listening abilities. “What’s really great about Student Listening is that there’s an entire network that you can talk to if you feel that you can’t adequately help a student.”

At the weekly Monday meetings, Lamont Health Center staff, faculty and other members of the Exeter community present information to the Listeners on a chosen issue. This year, the meetings commenced with discussions on homesickness and will cover anxiety, sexuality, affirmative consent, body image, among others. These workshops will be led by the Student Listeners themselves.

Additionally, members of the community such as  Director of Equity and Inclusion Stephanie Bramelett and Dean of Residential Life Carol Cahalane will also lead sessions.

Meetings, according to upper and Student Listener Haruka Masamura, cover many aspects of the position, including planning events in the dorm and how to appropriately respond to different situations. These appointments ensure that Listeners are perceived as a “safe outlet” for the dorm as a whole.

Participants also just enjoy meeting with the rest of the Student Listener community. “To get together with a really great group of caring people is a great way to start your week,” said senior and Student Listener Olivia Lazorik.

For senior and Student Listener Morgan LeBrun, these meetings inform her about campus resources. These resources, LeBrun mentioned, include the ASAP program, a non-disciplinary program which provides therapeutic services; Exeter’s counseling services, a group of seven licensed experts available for appointment; and HAVEN, a violence prevention and support services agency.  “I think those meetings are opportunities for us as student listeners to connect students with resources that are available to everyone on campus,” she said.

With their training, Student Listeners often have a lasting impact in the dorm and day student community,  lower Lekha Masoudi explained. “I felt like [my problem] was something that was really hard to fix, but the listener I talked to had also dealt with it,” Masoudi said. “It was someone who I didn’t talk to very often, but she was still willing to get to know my issue, understand it, and help me with it. We weren’t really close, but she still helped me and I really appreciate that.”

Student Listener and upper Annie Shin feels she will be a better peer this upcoming year. “It’s really motivating to know that what I learn in the Student Listener meetings and workshops are all skills and ideas that I can apply to my everyday life, whether I’m ‘working’ as a StuLis or just talking to a friend, dormmate, or even a stranger,” she said.

Reflecting on the position of student listener, upper and Student Listener Meredith Thomas recounted how previous Student Listeners inspired her to become one. “I felt comfortable reaching out to student listeners in my dorm,” said Thomas. “They were really helpful to me in figuring things out and just being a really good person to talk to.”

Student Listeners are an essential cog in the Academy support system, Lee concluded. “We want students to reach out to adults, we also understand the powerful influence of peer-to-peer guidance as well,” she said. “Students often reach out to their friends and look for their support, validation, and advise. Student voice is vital.”