CommLabASU is not only a place to go for public speaking assistance and communication education – though this is certainly most people’s starting points. CommLabASU is also a place where mentees, mentors, and student workers alike can thrive and flourish. For many of those who frequent our space, the lab becomes somewhat like a home to them – it welcomes, encourages, and pushes each and every individual to grow, all while remaining a safe, warm, and supportive place. This is consistent for each student who invests their time into CommLabASU. For those who take up roles as student workers, they note that CommLabASU challenges them to think outside the box and take risks but never feel like they are alone in the courageous steps they take. Their peers and colleagues support and cheer them on and even provide guidance or help when it’s necessary.

In additional to the work that goes on within CommLabASU, the progress that our mentees, mentors, and student workers experience is astounding. They feel that lessons learned within the lab have impacted them greatly and won’t just benefit them in college but will continue to provide in their future careers. Whether it is learning to ask for help, listening to and embracing people, adopting a growth mindset, honing interpersonal communication, or simply realizing that with everyone there is more than meets the eye, the lessons learned within CommLabASU have had a profound impact on our students and will continue to do so for years to come.

But of course, sometimes knowing is only half the story, and encouragement is the rest. In our own students’ words, let them tell you why you should be part of CommLabASU:

• “Online mentoring allows you to build upon the skills that you learned and developed as a ground mentor while exploring how public speaking translates into a different medium... and develop more skills that you are interested in through special projects...”
• “Take the leap of faith... This space has shown me to never settle for a job that you don’t feel wanted, appreciated, and supported in.“
• “... you won’t find a more supporting environment.”
• "I never felt I had a friend group till I came to CommLabASU. Now, I feel seen."