This summer, the College Allies program welcomed Christina Corossis as its new Program Associate. Christina began her journey with CARA as a peer advisor in Hunter College’s Advising Office; this past spring, she moved into the role of supervisor, supporting the development of peer leaders. A two-time CUNY graduate with a BA in Psychology and an MSEd in School Counseling from Hunter College, Christina will be supporting the program’s New York City Allies trainings.

Q: How did you get connected with CARA?

Christina: I got connected to CARA in February 2020 during my sophomore year. I saw a job posting for a peer advisor at Hunter’s Peer Advising Office on Instagram and randomly decided to apply. As a first-generation college student, navigating college was overwhelming. Being a peer advisor allowed me to support first-year students with similar challenges, and I quickly realized how much I enjoyed this work.

Q: What drew you to the field of student advising and support?

Christina: Initially, I thought I’d be a teacher, but that didn’t work out. With my experience as a peer advisor, I realized I really liked higher education and guidance counseling. I appreciated the peer-to-peer support model because it felt more approachable and relatable than traditional advising. Students feel more comfortable to someone they can relate to, as opposed to their professor or a counselor who doesn’t really have the time. Even though the program was new and not really known, it felt great to know I was helping students and see them grow.

Q: How has your experience with CARA supported you personally and professionally?

Christina:  Balancing graduate coursework in School Counseling with fieldwork, a job, and a long commute was definitely challenging. There were moments when I considered taking a gap year. But the support I was receiving from CARA, especially from my weekly coaching sessions with my supervisor, really helped me stay motivated. I also discovered my passion for student advising. The alignment between my counseling coursework and my work with CARA has made a big difference in my confidence about my future and how I view it.

Q: What are you most excited about in your new role at CARA?

Christina: I’m really excited about the impact I can make on the students I’ll be working with. I’m looking forward to implementing sessions on setting boundaries and expanding training to virtual settings so that students feel supported no matter where they are. I’m excited to grow within an organization like CARA.  I’ve always been focused on building a sense of belonging among students, and I’m excited to continue pursuing that goal in my current role and be able to reach students across all of CUNY.