PEER Club is a club where people join with the purpose of spreading kindness. One of the leaders of the club, senior Rishit Choudhari, felt the best way to reciprocate kindness was through being a part of the PEER club. Choudhari’s leadership extends beyond club meetings, embodying the spirit of the club in his everyday life encounters. 

Q: What inspired you to join the PEER club, and what motivated you to become a leader in the club?

A: I was invited to interview for PEER at the end of my sophomore year. I knew what it was, and it turned out that then-senior Sean McDaniel was in it. So, I asked him what it was, and he said, “Hey, it’s just, you know, a group of upperclassmen. We’re already tight, and we spread a bunch of positive stuff around the school. It’s really fun. It’s so cool. You should definitely do it.” Okay, cool, I’ll join. As for what motivated me to become a leader, I wouldn’t say anything specifically motivated me to become a leader. I think just the optimism and positivity that everyone in the room has this year pushes you to try to do as much as you can. It’s a very cool feeling, like everyone’s united under the same goal of doing good stuff.

Q: As a leader, what are your main responsibilities within the club?

A: As one of the leaders of PEER, once a month, we all work on initiatives. Basically, our initiatives are like going and handing out flyers about human trafficking, spreading awareness on stuff like that. Our responsibilities vary day-to-day. It just depends on whatever we need to get done at the time. We just make sure that we’re always communicating. We have a group chat, and we just make sure we all know what we’re doing and what needs to get done.

Q: What has been the most rewarding experience you’ve had while being part of the PEER club? 

A: My most rewarding experience was during my junior year when we mentored at Moorefield Elementary for the first time. That was pretty cool because, over the course of like four or five months, we did the mentoring. I really got close to my mentee, Ian. It was really cool just to talk to him and be someone he could talk to to get his mind off of whatever was going on, and be a friend to him. 

Q: How do you promote inclusivity and a positive environment within the club and the school community? 

A: We’re always just trying to think about the school with PEER. So, one Friday a month, we sit outside the school and say “good morning” to everyone, just to put a smile on people’s faces. We’ll bring donuts and stuff to cafeteria staff, [custodians], bus drivers, stuff like that.

Q: What are some challenges you’ve faced as the PEER club president, and how did you overcome them? 

A: Going back to mentoring, my first time mentoring was definitely a new experience, like talking to someone you just met for that amount of time, like an hour or whatever. That’s a unique experience. There was nothing bad about it, but it was so unique. I overcame it by forcing myself to be positive, to be outgoing, just talking to him, listening, and just being a good listener overall. I enjoyed that, actually.

Q: Can you share a time when the PEER club made a significant positive impact on a student or group of students? 

A: The cafeteria staff is always very happy about receiving donuts for their appreciation day, and they seem very happy to see that. They say, “Oh, we don’t get stuff. We’re very thankful.” 

Q: How do you encourage other students to get involved in PEER club?

A: We just do announcements, flyers, a bunch of stuff. Like cheering, sitting outside in front of school, and just saying “Good morning,” whatever it is. We have ribbons and stuff, too, [to spread awareness for various causes].

Q: What are some goals you hope to achieve as the PEER club president before the school year ends? 

A: I would like to get a few big initiatives going. Like, we want to do a pep rally at Rosa Lee Carter [Elementary School] for awareness for something. We want to do something like a rock rally to spread positivity with a big event.

Q: How do you collaborate with school staff or administration?

A: A part of our team is actually a counseling team, as well as Mrs. Taylor, a teacher. So, we work pretty closely with them in planning our events and initiatives, and brainstorming our initiatives. We also get everything approved with the front office, so Mr. Duellman approves everything as well.

Q: What advice would you give to future PEER club presidents or students interested in promoting mental health awareness in their school?

A: Definitely just come in with an attitude that’s ready, like willing to experience new things and experience a whole new environment that you’ve never been in. For our first period, I was not very super outgoing or positive or anything. Honestly, in the first few weeks, it felt really fake. I didn’t feel like it was a real thing. Everybody was so optimistic and positive all the time, and just talking about nice stuff and being nice to each other, it just felt fake. So, to members or anybody in general putting themselves out there, I would just say come in with an open mind and adapt to wherever you’re at.

More than just a co-leader, Choudhari showcases the values of the PEER Club. His journey, from initially feeling unsure to becoming a confident advocate for positivity, serves as an inspiration to his friends and classmates. His willingness to step outside of his comfort zone and embrace kindness makes him a role model for all students at Rock Ridge.