BUFFALO, N.Y. — It’s never been easy to be a student. Some fair better than others, but looking at a mentoring program in Western New York — there are others like it across the state and the nation — it’s not hard to see why.

“I think a lot of our students are struggling with peer relationships, anxiety, depression,” said Kelli Cookfair, social worker, Maryvale High School.

Helping to combat that in a growing number of schools is Compeer.

“Change bodies change,” said Alishia Chardon, Compeer mentor, SUNY Fredonia senior. “You know, everything changes, and I wish that I would have had a mentor. I think I would have probably made better decisions.

College students like Chardon are now involved as ‘interns’ and mentors to give other classes a helping hand.

“I struggled with a lot depression, you know, everything you can think of and it was a very, very hard time for me,” Chardon said.

The key is aid on a personal level. No overbearing mandates or burdening structure.

“I'm not a teacher. I'm not here to tell you what to do. I'm not here to give you detention. I'm just here to talk to you,” said Chardon. “That really helps set the stage for a relationship.”

And while the program keys in on lessons from eating healthy to academic topics, it’s a well-rounded approach for the whole of these students.

“Trying to make a difference for kids who probably were in the same shoes that I was in, and you know, are looking for someone to just to talk to them, ask them how their day was, what's going on at home or whatever the case may be,” said Chardon.

With the pandemic, students over the last three years have faced a whole new challenge. Just ask Maryvale senior Jakaiah Williams — it’s been brutal.

“COVID was terrible for me,” said Williams. “I really don't have motivation when it comes to school sometimes. So for me to be on the screen looking at the camera and doing my work, it was really hard for me to stay up, it was really hard for me to do my work.”

Some students were able to rise to the challenge, get good grades through virtual learning — but have struggled elsewhere.

“It was really just about confidence and they just didn't know how to react or interact with another student,” said Williams.

Being a part of the Compeer program and knowing Chardon has made a world of difference.

“She has helped me motivate myself to come to school, go to my classes and do my work,” said Williams. “I can actually speak to my mom. I can actually speak to my mother about things that I usually don't speak to them about.”

Back to the litany of challenges facing our elementary, middle and high schoolers – there are resources.

“Our students are struggling with a lot of things, and I think having somebody that's specific and special to them, and their friendship, their mentor, has really been helpful,” said Cookfair, social worker, Maryvale High School. “Any type of mentorship counseling support for kids is huge.