Nashville State Community College team (left to right): Verenice Murrieta, Michael Sostre Carrion, Jayme Hay, Kati Murphy, Renae Rakidzic, Luis Parra Ceballos
In the midst of a busy registration season, it’s easy to lose sight of our “why” as advisors. As advisors, we often are just trying to survive the day and serve our students to the best of our abilities. We are tired, facing burnout, and often feel stuck. It was during a season like this that we had the opportunity to attend the 2025 NACADA Annual Conference as part of the Advising Success Network (ASN) delegation. This experience was not only an amazing trip for the advisors to reset and recharge, but an opportunity for some of our students to learn and see the value of our work. Bringing two students as a part of the team from Nashville State changed everything.
The NACADA Annual conference is a gathering of advisors, educators, and student affairs professionals that are passionate about student success. The 2025 conference was October 26 – 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. There were thousands in attendance all ready to network, learn, and share their ideas. Whether you were a brand-new advisor or a seasoned veteran, there was so much to learn here.
Each time block had dozens of sessions to choose from, and at times it felt impossible to choose just one session to go to! Our team from Nashville State came to help learn more about peer advising and discover new strategies to help our growing team and student population. Our most recent project is a peer advising program for our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) population, and the students we brought with us are our brand-new peer advisors for that program. ESOL students often face unique challenges, and having a peer who understands their experience can make a significant difference in their confidence and success.
Lightbulb Moments
Bringing students to a national advising conference gave them a unique opportunity to see behind the curtain of everything that happens in advising. From the opening keynote speaker to our last session, our students were engaged and full of questions. They wanted to know more about their roles and had ideas to add to our program. One of the most exciting moments was on the first night, when keynote speaker Dr. Cecelia Santiago-Gonzalez opened the conference:
“When I listened to Dr. Cecilia Santiago talk, something clicked for me. She shared her story about growing up, and I saw myself in her. Everything she said felt real, and I could feel how much she believes in the power of advising. When she explained that advising isn’t just giving information but helping students grow, I felt that in my chest, and it hit me that this job actually makes a difference. Advisors can be the person students go to when they need direction, and that’s huge.” – Verenice Murrieta, ESOL Connect Peer Advisor
During a session on academic coaching, Luis Para gained insight on what it means to be an advisor:
“I had a real lightbulb moment. The presentation showed how an advisor can go beyond simply answering questions and instead become someone who inspires critical thinking and curiosity. I realized that to truly grow as an advisor, I need to focus not only on providing information, but on showing genuine interest in each student and helping them discover answers for themselves.” – Luis Parra, ESOL Connect Peer Advisor
The Impact
Seeing the excitement surrounding the students gave me renewed energy. Their enthusiasm reminded me of why I began working in advising many years ago. Advising is about helping students be successful, not just navigating the systems. Being surrounded by passionate individuals at the conference and sharing our love for advising reminds me of our impact on higher education. Both students began to understand not only the impact of advising for their own journeys, but also how they can impact others journeys as a peer advisor:
“Everyone I met there was so kind and genuinely cared about students. You could tell they love what they do. As a new Peer Advisor for ESOL students, this whole experience came at the perfect moment. It reminded me of how I felt when I was an ESOL student; confused, nervous, and unsure where I belonged. Now I want to be the person I needed back then. I want ESOL students to feel like they have someone who understands them and someone who wants to help them succeed, even if they’re struggling.
The sessions helped me understand what I need to work on, and I actually gained confidence that I didn’t have before. I also realized how much effort the Student Success Center puts into making this program work, and that honestly makes me want to try even harder. If I can help even one student reach their goals or not give up, I’ll feel like everything was worth it.” – Verenice Murrieta, ESOL Connect Peer Advisor
Looking Forward
Watching Verenice and Luis discover their purpose as peer advisors reminded us all why this work matters. They returned to Nashville State not only with practical skills and strategies, but with a deeper understanding of the transformative power of advising.
As we continue building the ESOL Connect peer advising program, we’re energized by their passion and insights. Their fresh perspective has already begun shaping how we approach our work, and their commitment to being the support they once needed is exactly what will make this program successful.
Sometimes the best way to remember our “why” is to show others what we do and why we do it. The impact goes both ways—they learn what it means to truly support someone’s educational journey, and we rediscover the profound difference we make every single day.
Author Information
Renae Rakidzic
Assistant Director, Student Success Center
Nashville State Community College
B.S. in Psychology and Child, Adult, and Family Studies – Iowa State University
M.S. in Academic Advising – Kansas State University
Institution Information
Nashville State Community College serves the diverse Nashville community by providing accessible, affordable education and workforce training programs that prepare students for successful careers and transfer opportunities. As Tennessee’s largest community college, Nashville State is committed to student success through innovative support services and partnerships that meet the evolving needs of our region.