In my final semester at ArtCenter, I had the opportunity to serve as a Peer Coach, a campus-wide support program offering peer-to-peer help on everything from technical skills to time management and creative feedback.

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As a coach, I supported students from all departments—especially those in the Animation Track—by offering guidance on CG workflows, rigging, modeling, animation, and production planning. I helped students troubleshoot software issues, prep for term reviews, organize their projects, and even navigate the complicated (and sometimes intimidating) world of pipelines and team management.

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Some students came to ask about how to export a clean file or organize their rigs, while others wanted honest critiques, portfolio guidance, or even insight into what it's really like managing a capstone team. Whatever the question, I was there to offer the kind of help I once needed but didn’t always know how to ask for. In fact, using the peer coaching program in my 4th term was something that ultimately saved my grades because I got to pick an upper termer's brain on how to do things properly in a production.

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What I Learned from Being a Peer Coach

Peer Coaching reminded me that leadership isn't just about directing others—it's about listening, simplifying complex ideas, and creating a space where someone feels safe asking a “dumb question.” I became a better mentor by learning how to meet people where they are, not where I expect them to be.

 

Artistically, it pushed me to articulate my own process. Explaining things like clean topology, rig hierarchy, or Maya file management reinforced what I knew and exposed where I could grow. It made me more mindful and intentional in my own work.

 

And personally? It made me proud. To know that I could be someone’s go-to, even for one session, reminded me how far I’ve come—and how much I want to keep showing up for the next person who just needs someone to say, “Hey, I’ve been there. You’ve got this.”