Take a moment to get to know Chelsey Small. She is a commuter student as well as a campus leader!
Tell us about yourself. My name is Chelsey Small! I’m a sophomore at Missouri State. I am from Kirksville, Missouri, but I spent my high school years in the small town of Cassville, Missouri. I am an undecided major, and I want to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy. Based on my career interest, I’ve joined Pre-OT club and the Health Professions Scholars program. Aside from this, I’m a part of an honors fraternity, and I spent this summer as a SOAR leader for Missouri State!
What caused you the most anxiety when you came to college as a commuter student? When I came to college, I was worried about parking and making friends since I wouldn’t be in the residence halls. On my first day of college, I only had one out of several commuter parking lots memorized, and that parking lot was full. This led to a frantic morning of driving around campus, missing my first classes, and making a distressed phone call to my parents! In this case, I was my own cause of stress. For your first couple weeks of class, but especially on that first day, come to campus extra early. Make sure you have an idea of where your classes and commuter parking lots will be. Everything gets easier from there! When it comes to making friends, break the ice with people you sit next to in your classes. Each day it gets easier and easier to talk to them, and before you know it, you have familiar faces on campus!
What expectations did you and your family set for you as a commuter student? How did you keep college from being an extension of high school? My family expected me to keep an open line of communication with them, but it wasn’t their job to wait up for me anymore. I had to keep track of my own classes, assignments, meetings, and campus events. It was time for me to start being responsible for myself and my schedule. I would make sure to send a text their way if I had car troubles, was staying with a friend, or if I wouldn’t be back until really late to help calm their worries.
As a commuter student, how did you get involved on campus? What were the biggest challenges? What tips do you have for incoming commuter students about getting involved? The best way to get involved is to stay on campus and participate on campus as much as possible. I made sure to check out all the clubs and organizations that interested me, and I attended the meetings after I joined them. I went to an on-campus ministry every week, as well as campus events to see what was offered on campus and to talk to people! The biggest challenge for me was initiating conversations with people I didn’t know and going to events alone. The best advice I could give is to be ready for new experiences and and a little discomfort! Don’t be scared to try new things, even if you’re alone, and don’t be discouraged if something you tried doesn’t work out. College gives you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to easily explore new activities and ideas; to find what you like and what you don’t. Your peers are going through the same transition you are, so start those conversations, and take advantage of the opportunities Missouri State is providing for you. If you ever have any questions or are struggling to get involved, talk to your advisor! They are here to help you succeed and find your place at Missouri State.
What advantages did you find as a commuter student? I found that I could still experience everything my peers were, while getting the commuter experience as well! Once I started those conversations with people and got involved, I would visit my new friends in the residence halls, as well as eat in the Plaster Student Union or dining halls with my Bear Pack Plan. As a commuter, I learned how to get around campus, how to navigate Springfield’s streets, and how to use the Bear Lines a lot faster than my friends in the residence halls. It was like getting the best of both worlds. In addition to those perks, we get a parking garage specifically for commuter use.
What’s your best advice for the families of commuter students? As a student myself, I can say that it is easier to get the best out of your college experience if your family members aren’t pushing you to make it back by dinner or asking for updates all day. If you want your student to keep in touch, have that conversation and come to an agreement beforehand. A lot of events on campus will occur later in the evening as well as during the day, so give your student that freedom. College is the perfect time for them to gain independence and confidence while they are surrounded by a strong and safe support system here at Missouri State.
What’s your favorite MSU tradition and why? My favorite MSU tradition was getting free stuff at our Sample Springfield event (taking place August 23rd)! Local businesses will come set up booths and tents in front of the Plaster Student Union. Depending on the business, they will hand out free food, drinks, t-shirts, coupons, prizes, and extra information. I had a blast learning about what the Springfield community had to offer and filling my bag with fun, free items in the process. It is a great chance to invite someone new to walk around and check it out with you! The Traditions Bearer app has a huge list of fun things to do and ways to get involved. There are so many more fun traditions than just this!
What resources did you utilize on campus (places to study, microwaves, etc.) During my time on campus, I used several resources but a few stuck out to me as the most useful for my lifestyle! I used the Foster Recreation Center to work out and enjoy BearFit classes several times a week. I studied in the library and in lounges of the residence halls or academic buildings. I also took advantage of our $60 worth of printing money in the computer labs around campus to print notes and essays. Don’t forget about your advisors and professors! They are extremely knowledgeable and can help connect you to anything you might need here on campus. It’s important to remember that Missouri State wants you to succeed, so if there is a resource you need, don’t be scared to ask if it is offered here!