Sarah Varnadoe, staff writer

On Feb. 24, a new opportunity for support arrived at Berry College in the form of a peer-led support group called CONNECT. Although the college does offer students a place to talk about their feelings in the form of the Counseling Center, Berry has never done something like CONNECT before. The group is run by two students as opposed to a school counselor. It is not therapy, but rather a place to get support—whether in the form of validating feelings, venting or finding resources for further aid—in an environment composed of people the same age experiencing similar situations.

The idea for CONNECT can be credited to sophomore Kay Petmecky. Petmecky is a resident assistant (RA) and got the idea for the group after she was struggling with work and realized that her residents were too. She wanted people to know that they are not alone in their struggles and that it is a normal feeling, a desire that became the inspiration for CONNECT.

“It can be so easy to feel alone and so hard to recognize that you’re not alone,” Petmecky said.

Petmecky reached out to Director of Counseling Becca Smith for assistance in getting the group started. Smith has prior experience in aiding the facilitation of groups similar to CONNECT at past employers like Valdosta State University. In order to keep the group peer-led, Smith’s role will primarily be as a support guide and someone to help in extreme situations. In meetings that discuss sensitive topics, students may need additional help that peers cannot give, which Smith can provide.

“[I am] a contact, to be like ‘Becca, I need some assistance in this situation,’” Petmecky said. “‘This is kinda over our paygrade now.’” 

After Petmecky and Smith conversed for a while, junior Reilly Thomas was brought in. Another RA, Thomas has experience encouraging her residents to seek counseling and knew there was a desire for support. She contacted Smith in search of a volunteer position and was informed of how CONNECT was being started. Together, Petmecky and Thomas will be the facilitators of the group. They share the desire to help others and create a safe space for students to talk.

“Honestly, [I] just [want] to provide a safe place that people can come to. If I can help one person, I’m happy. You don’t have to come every time, just come once,” Petmecky said.

The first meeting took place last Thursday. As students walked up, they were greeted by Petmecky, Thomas and Smith. They were able to sit on couches and chairs arranged in a circle and share their struggles. The facilitators, including Smith, all shared something in the hopes to make everyone feel more comfortable. There was no pressure to speak, but everyone was offered the chance to if they so desired.

Sophomore Isabelle Truitt was one of the students who went to the meeting, doing so because of a hard academic semester so far. She commented on how the location, a suite in the Cage Athletic Center, was a smart choice because it allowed for attendees to not have to openly say that they were going to a support group. Truitt plans on attending more meetings if she is feeling stressed and needs to share because she enjoyed the experience of the first meeting.

“I liked it a lot,” Truitt said. “I like the fact that it was very open and [how] students can form it to be what they want it to be.”

Petmecky and Thomas hope to shape CONNECT according to what the students want and stress that it is all about the students. 

“It’s not my thing,” Petmecky said. “It’s what people want. I’m just there to help facilitate it. I want it to be the community’s to shape and to [make] into whatever we need.”

Due to this, they do not have set plans for future meetings. They are open to ideas such as having some meetings be related to specific topics. For example, there could be a meeting revolving around the LGBTQ+ community where students who are a part of that group can talk about their experience. They are also considering small group breakoffs if the attendance rises to make students more comfortable with sharing since it may be intimidating to do so in front of a large group. Petmecky and Thomas want to do whatever possible to make students feel safe and to ensure that everyone who wants to share has the opportunity to.

“I definitely think it [will] be flexible, but I do think it’s important that everyone has a chance to share something that they’re maybe struggling with,” Thomas said.

Meetings take place every Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. They are located in the Cage in the Presidential Suite on the third floor. Questions can be directed to Petmecky at Caitlyn.Petmecky@vikings.berry.edu or Smith at rsmith@berry.edu.