Take a moment to get to know Olivia Melder.
Tell us about yourself. My name is Olivia Melder, I am a sophomore majoring in Social Work and minoring in Sociology. My family consists of my parents, my older brother (Ethen), and our dog (Rolo)! We are a military family, so we have lived all over. But my favorite place I have gotten to call home was Kaiserslautern Germany!
What have you been involved with on campus? Some things I have been involved with on campus include, Student Government Association, Women’s Chorus, and SOAR!
You were a SOAR Leader this past summer. What made you apply to be a SOAR Leader? I applied to be a SOAR leader because it seemed like a great opportunity to meet people and make connections on campus. I thought it would be a good way to get involved, and also get work experience.
What did you learn from being a SOAR Leader? What are the qualities of a good Leader? The two qualities that I think are most important are kindness and patience. SOAR can become stressful at some points for students, and family members. It is important to be patient with people to help ease their anxieties and make the process less stress inducing.
Being kind is just what makes the summer more enjoyable. If you are nice to your fellow SOAR leaders and maintain a positive attitude, the summer will be much more fun, and you’ll make better friendships and connections.
Why did you apply to be an Orientation Assistant? What do you hope to accomplish in your new position? I applied to be an Orientation Assistant, because I absolutely loved being a SOAR Leader. I wanted the opportunity to have a leadership position in this program and continue the amazing work that pro-staff has already done!
Why should students get involved on campus? Getting involved on campus is honestly the best way to meet people and make friends! It’s a great way to build different skills and make connections with other students.
What is your favorite Missouri State tradition? Why? My favorite Missouri state tradition would have to be homecoming! The energy around campus is just so fun and there is always something to do!
What advice do you have for our family members? My best advice I could give to family members would be to give your child freedom. Sending a student to college can be very scary, and it is easy to want to hold on.
However, I think that taking a step back and allowing your student some independence to be an adult and have new experiences helps them become comfortable in the college environment more easily.
What advice do you have for our students? My biggest advice to students (especially incoming freshmen), would be to sit in uncomfortability a little bit. College can be very overwhelming and uncomfortable at first, but don’t let yourself get discouraged! If you don’t find your footing right away, that is completely okay, and you are not alone.
Put yourself out there, get involved, and find a group of people you love. Things might be difficult at first, but I promise if you just stick with it, you will have an amazing time here!