Brianna Lertora Profile Story

Lauren Melaugh: The Shaping of a Leader

Brianna Lertora

When she first came to Stonehill as a freshman, Lauren Melaugh was nervous. She hadn’t planned on coming to Stonehill and wasn’t sure it was the right school for her. Now she’s involved in numerous clubs on campus, has been elected Vice President of the Student Government Association (SGA) for the class of 2013, and holds a peer mentor position, offering guidance to incoming freshman who may be as nervous as she was.

“I first got involved in SGA and a lot of people who were involved in SGA were also peer mentors,” Melaugh explained. “Realizing how many great experiences people had encouraged me to apply.”

Melaugh joined the peer mentor team her freshman year, and has been a member ever since. As a peer mentor, Melaugh helps run the summer and fall orientation sessions for new students, which consists of playing name-games, and initiating activities to get students acclimated to the Stonehill community.

“Orientation seemed like a great thing to get involved in and give back to Stonehill,” Melaugh said. Who better to help new students feel comfortable at Stonehill than the woman who conquered her fears and is now so involved on the Stonehill campus?

Melaugh said the end of the summer orientation is her favorite part about being a peer mentor. “In 36 hours there’s a huge transition in (the new students’) outlook of Stonehill and their future. It’s a nice feeling that you were a part of that transition,” Melaugh said.

The confident, bubbly woman talking to me wasn’t always so sure of herself. “I was never planning on coming here so I had a lot of doubts about if this was the right place for me,” explained Melaugh. “Orientation definitely helped me feel more comfortable, but it wasn’t until I actually moved in and lived here that it really felt real.”

“A lot of the incoming students have questions about Stonehill, and want all these doubts and concerns taken care of before they come here,” explained Melaugh.

Chair of the Orientation Committee, Jim Hermelbracht, said the Peer Mentor program is important on campus because “it offers our new students a chance to connect to a returning student leader who has been trained to help students adjust to their new life at Stonehill.”

Before the summer orientation, the peer mentor team is trained in group dynamics and campus resources so they can help incoming freshmen make the transition from high school to college.

“Because of all these bonding experiences the team gets very close,” Melaugh said. “It’s definitely like a community because there’s a strong support system and we go through a lot of training in the spring, summer, and fall.”

Melaugh said all of that training has made her realize she is an important part of the team, and she has a lot to offer. “That idea makes you feel special and important and that’s definitely shaped my college experience and encouraged me to try new things and put myself out there,” said Melaugh.

“She has truly enjoyed and continues to enjoy and appreciate her Stonehill experience. Because of that, because she has invested her time and energies into Stonehill, both academically and socially, she truly sees all that Stonehill can offer a new student,” Hermelbracht said of Melaugh.

Melaugh said talking one-on-one to new students makes them feel more comfortable. She hopes to show them that “there’s someone that directly cares about them and wants them to have a good time.”

Johnny Joseph, a sophomore at Stonehill and one of Melaugh’s orientation students, considers Melaugh a role model.

“I wanted to be a peer mentor since my freshman orientation,” Joseph said. “I loved everything they did for us when I was the first-year student. Lauren wrote me a note saying that I should apply for the peer mentor program.” Joseph has since become a peer mentor and plans to continue the program until he graduates.

The peer mentor program partners students together for orientation.

“I think Lauren has the ability to work well with any student, and I think she plays a strong role in being a reliable partner,” Hermelbracht said with a smile. Randy Jose, a senior at Stonehill and Melaugh’s peer mentor partner, agrees.

“Lauren was one of the most easy-going people to work with. We have similar attitudes, just whatever happens, happens, and we make it work. Lauren was a great spirit to be around. When there was chaos, we worked well together,” Jose remembers.

Melaugh has definitely come a long way in her time as a peer mentor. Since starting college as a timid freshman, she has integrated herself with the Stonehill community and has risen to be an admired leader. Hermelbracht, who has known Melaugh since her first year on campus, can attest to that.

“Given my position,” Hermelbracht said, “I have the benefit of working with students from their first year to when they graduate Stonehill. I get to see students grow over the four years, and it’s reassuring to see students grow more into themselves, and that’s definitely something that Lauren has done.”