Posted 9:27 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The job that never felt like work
As I am writing this post, everyone around me is getting ready to graduate, myself included. My roommate is packing up her things, and I am finishing my final undergraduate assignments. Despite this, it does not feel real that I will be leaving La Crosse and the job I have loved so dearly in a few short weeks. I have been a Peer Health Advocate (PHA) for five semesters now, and I have loved every moment of it.
My journey as a PHA really began before I even came to UWL. Shortly after I committed to UWL in April 2022, I followed the Peer Health Advocates on Instagram as I was trying to get to know more about the college I was to call home. At first glance, the PHAs appeared to be a great group to get involved with. As a Psychology major, I saw that a priority of the group was the mental health of college students and that drew me in.
It wasn’t until the first semester of my sophomore year that I saw the job opening to become a PHA. I immediately applied despite feeling that this role was a bit outside my comfort zone; however, upon meeting Issy (Student Wellness Coordinator) and some PHAs my nerves were instantly settled. This was an amazing group of individuals who were passionate about wellness, and I was so excited to join the team.
Since getting hired, I have been able to have some amazing experiences that I can’t believe I was able to call a job. My time as a PHA has never felt like work, instead it has felt like spending time spreading wellness and fighting stigma with some of the most passionate, ambitious, and incredible people I have ever met. I have been fortunate to have so many memorable experiences as a PHA and at UWL during my time here.
In particular, I was granted the opportunity to be the first UWL student in the Trained Peer Program for the online support community, Togetherall. This experience allowed me to gain first-hand experience in providing mental health support to all different types of individuals and gain training from certified mental health professionals. Without being a PHA, I would not have had access to this amazing opportunity for work in Psychology.
Besides that particular experience, I have been able to become trained in crisis intervention, speak at Social Justice Week, present at the UWL Leadership Summit, and so much more. In the spring semester of my junior year, I was made Lead PHA, which was both a big responsibility and an exciting moment. I felt ready to become more involved as a PHA and eager to become closer with the team. It has been extremely rewarding to be so involved with the great work we do on campus and see the impact it has. Our team has done so much to spread awareness about various aspects of health and combat stigma on our campus.
By far, my favorite part of being a PHA is the people I get to work with. From everyone in the Student Life Office to the other PHAs, all have made a significant impact on my college experience. It’s easy to bond with people when you talk to freshman about using condoms and drinking responsibly together, but it goes far deeper than that. As a team, I have never witnessed a group so dedicated to supporting, uplifting, and empowering one another. Everyone is constantly celebrating each other doing well on an exam or getting into grad school while being a friend to lean on when fighting with roommates or experiencing a loss.
This team means so much to me, and I am extremely fortunate to have had so many wonderful experiences with them as a PHA. I will always remember my time as a PHA and I will greatly miss getting to work side by side with such amazing individuals. The years have flown by as an undergrad, and it is surreal to think it is coming to an end. But, I have gained so much confidence in myself as a result of being a PHA that I am truly excited for what the future may bring.
Brooke Axelson, Lead Peer Health Advocate