HELP Advising: A New Approach to Success

Do you remember your college advisor? Do they remember you?  

A student from Haiti’s largest slum was living in the HELP dorm but could not escape the stress of her upbringing, the worry for her family, and the pressure of being the only hope of her parents and siblings.  Her stress was so acute that it was manifesting in physical symptoms. These burdens weighed on her so heavily that she had difficulty getting through each day and could not begin to think about developing herself. Her advisor jumped in and set up a medical assessment and ongoing psychological support.  Far from being paralyzed by her circumstances, this student is now a graduate, thriving in her job and able to support her family.  

At HELP, we’ve completely reinvented advising for university students to offer personalized and multi-dimensional support for our 208 students.  HELP advising ensures that each student benefits as much as possible from the services offered by HELP, shows them more productive and efficient ways to approach their academics, and helps them grow personally.  

In addition, says Student Affairs Director Smyrne Saintil, “The role of an advisor at HELP is particularly important given the context of Haiti and the background of our students. It really helps for students to see, in a person who looks like them, that success is possible even with all the difficulties we are facing.” 

HELP advisors build relationships with their students through monthly meetings throughout their five years at HELP. These meetings vary as much as the students themselves but often address issues of living together;building courage, rigor, and self-esteem; time management and following through on commitments; and being a responsible citizen. To address these problems, HELP advisors develop a support plan to help the student work on his or her challenges. The advising office has a mini library of books and articles and advisors seek out helpful videos on YouTube and draw on a documentary series from Université Laval in Canada.  HELP advisors also receive training on psychological first aid for young people to offer support and guidance in more critical situations. When a situation arises that is beyond the advisor’s training, they will refer the student to a clinical psychologist.  

Sometimes a student’s challenge takes an advisor further afield.  In the case of a recent first-year student, just after being admitted to HELP, she handed in a letter of withdrawal. As a Seventh Day Adventist, her family did not want her to attend a secular organization with elements that counter Adventist teachings like activities on Saturdays.  HELP advisor Sédrick Saintus went to the church leaders and brought in the student’s parents to explain how attending HELP would allow the student to prepare her own future which otherwise seemed very uncertain. After a long discussion, the church leaders and the student’s parents relented and today, she is one of the top students in the program.   

“What I appreciate most about HELP," says advisor Sedrick Saintus, "is that the funds allocated for students are actually spent on students. And in the advising office, the dynamism and passion for helping students succeed creates a great environment. Advisors are invested and empathetic, it’s that human element.  In times of crisis, as in normal times, we are always there for our students.  When things go wrong, we double down and reinforce our presence so that students come to believe and know that there is someone there to listen to them, someone they can trust and rely on.  When HELP shifts to remote activities, advisors contact each student to find out how the crisis situation is affecting them, and what tools or support they may need.  In addition, when some calm returns, HELP advising organizes group therapy sessions to help students unburden themselves emotionally.” 

But of course, some of the stresses on students are also weighing on advisors. The insecurity, the steady echo of gunshots, and worry for family impact on staff just as much as students so, at the end of each term, HELP puts on a workshop for advisors and staff to release emotional tensions, and learn tools to build resilience.  

You can be intelligent and excel and have your basic needs met, but if you have experienced suffering, insecurity, family problems, etc, a lack of support can lead to failure.  To function well you need balance, a harmony of your physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions and that’s where HELP advising comes in.  Advisors are that support, that guide to bring life into harmony, an essential part of each student’s life, helping them improve their academics and prepare for life as adults and citizens.