Wellness Ambassador Emily Grayburn talks about COVID and campus
Wellness ambassadors support the University of Illinois' COVID-19 educational compliance efforts by providing health resources to the university community. The College of Applied Health Sciences is proud to boast several students who are participating in the Wellness Ambassador program. Periodically, we'll speak with a student about what they have encountered in their role. Today, it's Emily Grayburn, a student in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health.
Q: What kind of training did you receive to become a Wellness Ambassador?
A: I participated in a four-hour-long, Zoom-based training along with the other Wellness Ambassadors. During this meeting, we got to speak with members of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District as well as Dr. Robert Parker from McKinley Health Center. We also learned what we would be doing during our shift and how to approach people politely. We also need to attend bi-weekly trainings to update our job duties, if need be.
Q: What kind of activities are you performing while working?
A: While working, I typically walk around campus with one to two other Wellness Ambassadors and hand out COVID-19 wellness kits to people walking by. These kits include a map of testing locations, a card with information about the COVID Wellness Answer Center, a button or sticker, a flyer containing information about flu shots, and either a mask, sunglasses, or a hand sanitizer.
Q: How many hours do you work a week?
A: I work 8-10 hours a week.
Q: Where are you stationed?
A: I am usually stationed at (Illinois Street Residence) Halls, (Student Dining and Residential Programs Building), or walking around campus.
Q: What challenges have you faced in doing the job?
A: Some challenges that I have faced while doing this job would be dealing with the small amount of students who aren’t compliant with wearing a mask.
Q: What kind of reactions do you get from students or faculty when you encounter them?
A: For the most part, students are very excited about receiving free goodies from the university. They are very thankful that we are making a positive impact on our community.
Q: What’s the toughest part of the job?
A: The toughest part of my job would be confronting individuals who do not want to wear their masks. Although it is a small percentage of students, we still need to sometimes tell these people that they need to keep their mask on whenever they are outside of their room to keep others safe and increase the chances of us being able to stay on campus.