This article has been updated to correct errors of fact. The South End regrets these mistakes

A Wayne State psychology graduate wants to lend a helping hand in preparing psychology majors for their future pursuits ranging from higher-level courses to research positions.

Stephanie Chastain, who graduated in May 2011 with a B.S. in psychology honors and university honors, founded a new program called Psychology Academic Support Services, or PASS. The program will assist students in multiple areas, like tutoring, forming academic resumes, graduate school applications, and much more.

“My true goal was to share my own experiences with others,” Chastain said.

The program is specifically made to serve the needs of psychology majors. It functions through the WSU psychology department and even shares an office with PSI CHI, an honor society for psychology majors.

Chastain was able to find much support for the program, especially from the program’s departmental supervisor and the psychology academic adviser, Shelly Seguin. Seguin does her part in sharing her own thoughts and experiences with Chastain and the PASS peer mentors.

Seguin has gone above and beyond the call of duty in order to prepare the PASS peer mentors on how to be empathetic and understanding of students who are having difficulties in their psychology courses by having a session with the members for empathy training.

“(Mentors are) people who have a genuine desire to help others…kind of like role models,” Chastain said.

The PASS peer mentors are a group of well-respected psychology majors who have decided to help Chastain. These students were selected for their willingness to assist others, their outgoing personalities and their diverse experiences.

Zeinab Saad, a PASS peer mentor, insists that being a mentor is “not just about being a tutor or giving a helping hand, but about being a better student and learning from the experience.”

“As a mentor I get to meet new people, who are going into
the same major as me, but are taking different steps to achieve in it,” Saad said. “I find that I am not only teaching others, but learning from them, and creating new friends in the process.”

With the help of the peer mentors, Chastain said she hopes to hold events that will “help and support as many students as possible”

PASS can be reached at 313-577-0707, or by email at psychologymentors@wayne.edu. PASS is located in room 7100.3 on the 7th floor of 5057 Woodward. Their office hours are Mondays noon-3 p.m., Tuesdays 9:45 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesdays noon-4 p.m., Thursdays 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and Fridays by appointment.

“If our office hours do not fit in your schedule, please email us and we will try to accommodate you,” Chastain said.