Take a moment to get to know one of our SOAR Orientation Assistants, Logan Harrod. Logan has been a SOAR Leader since 2016. Find out what he loves about SOAR! Encourage your student to find out more about becoming a SOAR leader here. The deadline to apply is November 1st at 5pm.
What inspired you to become a SOAR Leader? What lessons did you learn?
The moment I stepped on campus and interacted with the SOAR Leaders during my orientation session was the same day I became interested in becoming a SOAR Leader. I had told myself that I was going to take it easy and worry predominantly about school the first semester, but as my time here at Missouri State University continued, I realized that it wasn’t an impossible task to be involved and be studious. What truly inspired me was one of the SOAR Leaders that I ran into in the Foster Recreation Center. She explained the process and I felt that it was a win-win. You get to stay in your college town and experience that freedom while simultaneously getting a free meal plan and lodging.
Once selected as a SOAR Leader, I didn’t realize how much I would actually learn from this job and honestly I was just overjoyed that I was offered a position as a freshman on campus. This experience not only has allowed me to make connections here at Missouri State and off campus, but it allowed me to learn a sense of professionalism that I will continue to use in my career. The job never really seemed like a job, and maybe that is why I loved it so much. I was constantly surrounded by people that started the journey as strangers but became some of my best friends.
So Logan, what exactly did you learn from being a SOAR Leader? Great question. If we are being completely honest there is too much to list out but I can definitely list some of the most relevant lessons that I have learned. First off, I came from a family that definitely could have improved their communication skills but that was not a problem after working as a SOAR Leader. I learned how to effectively communicate with others and to communicate with a large group of people. You never really realize how many people contribute to the success of our university until you have to work with them to accommodate students that are coming into the university. Which transitions into the next big take-away from that SOAR program, and that is adaptability. There are several individuals that believe that everything needs to be structured and things will be the same, but the first day on the job, you find that statement is incorrect. To be in any leadership position, you need to be adaptable and critique your leadership style to tackle certain situations. Altogether, this position has allowed me to truly understand myself. It was a journey that validated my ability to confront certain situations, which lead me to be more confident and comfortable in who I am. My summers participating in the SOAR program have assisted me in figuring out what I wanted to major in. I have a lot to thank of the SOAR program because without it, I would not be on the path of success that I am.
What activities are you involved in on campus? Why is it important to get involved on campus?
Coming from the Chicagoland area, it was pertinent that I got involved. I saw my involvement with organizations and other individuals as a way to create a sense of home and form a support system when my family couldn’t be here. Being seven and a half hours away from your loved ones can be difficult for both my family members and I. It can be even worse if your student doesn’t have a group they feel comfortable with. I hadn’t planned on doing much like I said, and probably would have transferred to a closer school back home if I hadn’t decided to step outside my comfort zone. So with some reservation, I decided to go through recruitment and join a fraternity. If you knew me in high school, nobody would have expected that. Heck, I’m now the president of that fraternity! Literally, anything is possible if you just put yourself out there. I know that being an incoming freshman can be very intimidating, but the more that I became involved, the more comfortable I felt here. You can never replace your family but you can relate to others that are going through the same thing. After joining the fraternity, I decided to join a campus ministry, the handball team for a little bit, and SOAR. All these organizations allowed me the privilege of meeting so many unique people from different backgrounds and finding out exactly who they were. Which ultimately allowed me to find a larger support system and create relationships with people that I probably would have never run into if I hadn’t become involved. With that being said, after freshman year and you feel more comfortable at your school doesn’t mean that your extracurricular involvement needs to be discontinued. I’m a junior this year and I decided to join the Pre-Dental society and volunteer weekly at the Ronald McDonald mobile care unit. It’s never too late to make your Missouri State experience one that you can reflect on for the rest of your life!
What was it about working with students that encouraged you to apply for the position of Student Orientation Specialist? What are your responsibilities?
The relationship and bonds that you make during your summer of SOAR are a large contributing factor as to why I continued to work for the program. The moment I joined, I started to realize how much time and effort goes into planning the entire summer, and I wanted to pull my own weight and help contribute to the success of the program that helped me realize I have so much potential. The relationships I made with my students, fellow SOAR Leaders, and the Orientation Assistants my first summer helped me determine that at one point, I wanted to continue working for this program.
Now we have many responsibilities, but I would say that the most important feature of the job is to help equip the SOAR Leaders with the knowledge to succeed and feel confident in their aspect of the job. Right now, it’s a lot of behind the work scenes like getting ready to hire the new SOAR Leaders and ensuring that individuals know the applications are out and guaranteeing the interview processes run smoothly, because no one wants to work with supervisors that are irresponsible.
What is your favorite Missouri State tradition? Why?
My favorite tradition by a landslide is dipping your feet in the John Q. Hammons Fountain. That fountain is a staple here at Missouri State and has the ability to make any day seem a little better. It’s not only a relaxing location on campus but at night when the lights for the fountain come on and the sun is setting, it is truly breathtaking.
What is your major and what are your career goals?
I currently am pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Communication with minors in Biomedical Science and Chemistry. I don’t plan on changing it this late in the game but I feel as if you are never really sure what you want to do. Ultimately, the end goal is to be a dentist. I plan on either applying to dental school this summer or another health professional program. If that doesn’t work out I plan on continuing my education and get my Master’s Degree in Health Administration and later apply to dental school. One of my personal goals is to have the title of Doctor in front of my name so I plan on doing that but am not entirely sure which route I am going to take to get there.
Using only three words, describe yourself.
Ambitious, Strong-minded, Administrative
What do you want your legacy at Missouri State to be?
My goal throughout my time here at Missouri State has been to make people feel connected and appreciated. I want people to remember the effort that I put in to make them feel at home and comfortable, and pass that on to others. Life can be difficult and you truly never know the situations that someone is going through. If I had to leave one thing behind it would be kindness, and for others to reflect on the times we would hang out and laugh about the experience.