What a great question, I’m glad I was asked. Family Weekend is right around the corner (Oct. 28th-30th) and I can’t think of a good reason not to join in on the festivities. I am so confident that it is a good idea to go to Family Weekend that I compiled the reasons in the form of an acrostic poem:
Bring your student food and money. Postage can be pricey, and I know lots of ya’ll were at the SOAR this summer and are following my advice of sending care packages. Why not save some stamps and bring the care package in the car with you instead? Then your student gets goodies and gets to see you as well.
Observe campus life at full swing! Even if you’re not a people watcher like me, it is still fun to see the hustle and bustle of campus during the school year. You can start to get a feel of the community your student is a part of.
Obtain discounted football tickets! By registering through the Family Page on the Missouri State University website, you can get discounted football tickets to the Bear’s home game on Family Weekend!
Middle of the semester is a great time for a visit! No matter if you’ve come to Springfield or not yet, this is perfect timing for a visit. The school year has been established, your student has become familiar with the campus and the weather is (usually) pretty nice.
EVENTS! EVENTS! EVENTS! There are a plethora of events during Family Weekend to choose from! Just a few to plug: Dive In-Movie in the Foster Rec Center, Haunted Campus Tours given by the Folklore club, Student Showcase & BBQ in the Plaster Student Union, Haunted Trail at Foster Rec Center for all ages, lots of sporting events: football, soccer, volleyball and ice hockey, and so much more!
Roommate and friend introductions tend to happen during this weekend as well. This may be the first opportunity you have to visit your student and it’s good to get to see who they are spending their time with. It’s always fun to put faces to the names of people your student tells you about!
Bookstore sales! The Missouri State Bookstore knows this is a popular weekend for families to come to visit and they want to give ya’ll the best opportunity to further your maroon and white collection. Be sure to swing by to see the latest Bear merchandise and get your Family Weekend discount.
Experience your student’s daily routine. Chances are, your student doesn’t go in depth on the details when it comes to their daily schedule. It’s pretty cool to see your student’s school year routine and take a step in their shoes for a weekend.
Ask your student questions. Sure, you can ask your student questions anytime without having to travel to Springfield, but when you ask questions in person, there is more likely to get a more meaningful response from your student. It may even lead to walking somewhere or showing you a location while answering your question. Just being here could trigger some questions you didn’t even know you had.
Reach out to Priscilla or myself in person! Of course we are always available over email or phone, but we love to see y’all in person for face to face conversations. We will be around all weekend long so be sure to holler if you spot us!
In case you didn’t notice, the acrostic poem spells out ‘Boomer Bear’. This was not just a random word selection. I chose Boomer Bear because Family Weekend is one of his favorite times of the year! There will be opportunities to meet Boomer and take photos and perhaps even acquire a Flat Boomer of your very own!
Hopefully I have convinced each and every one of you that attending Family Weekend is a maroonificent (magnificent) idea and that you have marked your calendars for October 28th-30th. If you are interested in purchasing football tickets (football tickets are going quickly) or a family weekend package, just go to the family page on the Missouri State website. Otherwise, just bring your BearWear and let your students know you are ready for a fun-filled weekend!
BearUp!
~Zoë
Zoë Pixler, a junior majoring in Photography and Art Education, is the Family Orientation Assistant, helping with special projects and family orientation. She is a member of a social sorority where she is the Vice President of New Member Education.