I arrived at One Manhattan West with my camera in hand, ready to capture our New York City Fall Training Camp. It was slated to be the biggest one of the season and I couldn’t wait to see what was in store. During lunch, I had the opportunity to meet Dayahn Davis and Erlin Turcios, two seniors from Eagle Academy for Young Men in Newark. On their team, Erlin acts as Captain, and Dayahn fills the Data Manager position. These students from across the bridge ventured into the city ready to strategize and learn how they can increase their impact within their community. They sat down with me to discuss the synergy of their team, the impact they’ve had on their school thus far, and what being a Peer Leader means to them:  

What is one thing that you learned at your Workshop that you brought back to your team? 

Dayahn Davis: It’s okay to not know your intended major right away. When I first got to the Workshop, I didn’t know what major I wanted to go into. That was until I met my college coach, Antonio. He said to me, “there’s a major that’s out there for you.” With his support, I wound up picking mechanical engineering.  

Erlin Turcios: I learned that there are more postsecondary options out there than just college. After graduation, I thought you either went to college to get a degree, or you just got a job. I used to think that’s how it was. But, after I got selected for PeerForward and finally attended a Workshop, I learned about many postsecondary options that I never knew existed. As Dayahn said, I also learned a lot from my College Coach. He gave me many options, tips, and advice so that I can have a smooth senior year.  

Tell me a little bit about your team and what you have planned. Any events on the horizon? 

Dayahn Davis: Next week, we will have our 1st FAFSA night for the seniors. We have been planning it for a minute now, trying to figure out how to get our seniors all together. Now it’s finally going to happen. Also, probably going into January, we’re hoping to have another event where we’re helping our peers either with finishing college applications, or getting them into open houses for trade schools and workforce training programs. Our goal is to help everyone find their postsecondary path, no matter what it is. 

Erlin Turcios: We are also planning to do a little bit of fundraising so that we can help the class of 2028 be prepared when it comes to be their turn to act as senior Peer Leaders. We’re setting them up for success through fundraising and laying out the groundwork for future events. Hopefully, that will make it easier for them to host even more events than we are able to and continue to grow the team.  

Dayahn Davis: We’re preparing our junior class now for when they become seniors next year to set them up for success to impact even more students. We’re going to start them off on a good foot so they can just continue moving forward and building their own pathways. We want the PeerForward team at our school to continue to improve year after year. 

When you interact with your fellow students, what are some of the questions that they have for you as Peer Leaders?   

Erlin Turcios: One of the main questions that other students have asked me is, “What is the purpose of college?” I tell them, it’s really a lot about experience and what you want to do in life. There are so many different majors that you can choose from. Community college is a lower cost option, and you can use your time there to explore your interests. Another question that I’m often asked is, “What if I go to college and still don’t feel prepared for life when I graduate?” Some of our peers are worried that college won’t help them progress and grow in the way they want. I didn’t have an answer for that one until I joined PeerForward. When I was first asked that question, I was like, “What do you mean you think college won’t prepare you?” But, as got more involved in PeerForward, I learned that even if they feel college isn’t the right place for them, they still have a lot of other postsecondary options. They can try trade school, workforce programs, or maybe even start their own business. Not everything requires a college degree. It’s just important that you have a plan.  

Dayahn Davis: It’s okay not to go straight into college if you don’t think it’s the best fit for you. It’s also okay to start college even if you’re still trying to figure out your future. If start college and don’t know what major you want to pick or maybe you picked a major but worry you got it wrong, just revisit your interests and build off of that. You can take courses you are interested in as a way to explore options and then reevaluate. I feel like it’s all about your preferences and what you find yourself enjoying the most.  

What does being a Peer Leader mean to you?  

Dayahn Davis: For me, it’s about building bonds and making connections with people. Through this program, I’ve made connections that I think will live on for years and years. Actually, when I did my Workshop, I didn’t talk much until I met a certain group of people. They helped me start getting more comfortable. Once I got more comfortable around them, I felt like I was still at home. So, for me, I feel like it’s all about making those connections, building a better network, and being able to be yourself and talk to your peers openly.  

Erlin Turcios: For me, as captain, I have to guide and support my team, my peers, and even the underclassmen. So, like Dayahn said, being a Peer Leader is a lot about networking and building connections. It also means exploring and learning new things. I feel like PeerForward is really a great program. I hope it continues to prosper for years to come.  

Some responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.