Take a moment to get to know Tristin Cathcart, Orientation Assistant. New Student Orientation and Family Programs.

Tell us about yourself.  My name is Tristin Cathcart, and I am originally from Ozark, MO! I am a sophomore double-majoring in Theatre and in Culture, Literature, & Media here at Missouri State
University. When I’m not in class or working, I love to go to concerts, watch movies, read, and play tennis. I love animals, and I have three dogs of my own; Peanut, Ripley, and Millie, as well
as my roommate’s very sassy cat, Bonzai! 

You were a SOAR leader this past summer. Why did you apply to be a SOAR Leader and what did you learn from the experience? I applied to be a SOAR Leader because I had a really great time as a SOAR student,  and I wanted to build more connections on MSU’s campus. I learned so much from the experience, and it was  truly so much fun.

I got to grow closer with faculty and my advisors for the summer, and I learned a lot about how to facilitate difficult conversations and to not freak out when something does not go according to plan.

What are you involved with on campus? Why is involvement important for college students? I’m currently in my second year with Bears LEAD, an organization for high ranking first generation bears to build connections and gain resources. I am also the Secretary for Tabula Rasa, a student-run theatre production company here at Missouri State! Involvement is so important for college students because becoming a working professional is all about connections.

I have gained so many opportunities because of the people I have met through these and other organizations, and it is honestly just a lot of fun. Being involved makes college seem less like a job and more like a transformative experience, and it helps you gain lifelong friends and skills.

What is your favorite tradition at Missouri State? Why?  My favorite tradition at Missouri State is FOUNTAIN DAY! It is just so much fun to see so many people at MSU come together to watch the fountain be turned on, rain or shine. The shirts are also always really cute and a bunch of organizations will be out sharing information and giving out free swag (and pizza)!

You applied and were hired to be a member of the Pro Staff for the New Student Orientation and Family Programs staff. You are a new Orientation Assistant. Why did you apply to be on the Pro Staff, and what do you hope to gain from this experience? I applied to be on Pro Staff because of how much I enjoyed my time as a SOAR Leader. To be honest, I didn’t expect to like this job as much as I did! But I gained so many lifelong friendships through that position and connected with MSU faculty that I never would’ve met had I not held that position.

When I saw that Pro-Staff positions were opening up, I realized that I really wanted to be able to be in even more of a leadership position within this program, and to be the SOAR Leaders main resource for help/questions this upcoming summer. My main hope for this upcoming summer is to foster even more meaningful connections with so many different people, and to solidify my leadership and communication skills.

Share a fun fact about yourself.  I have been lucky to travel to a lot of really amazing places in my life. My top two travel destinations have to be Iceland and France!

What is a piece of advice you have for our new students on campus? Get involved and go to the campus events. Even if you don’t have the time to join a group on campus, you can still attend so many events and get to know people all across MSU! Student Activities Council hosts so many events every semester, including Movie Wednesdays, and every event that they throw is free (and usually comes with food and even some swag too)!

What is a piece of advice you have for the family members of our students?  I know that it can be really hard to deal with this transition, especially if this is your first time sending a student to college. However, my biggest piece of advice is to know that even though your student will have to learn to be responsible for themself, they still have a multitude of resources on campus to help them. Resident Assistants, Campus Safety, the Bear CLAW, etc.

It is okay to be worried, but make sure that you are giving your student enough space to learn how to be an adult for the first time! And trust me when I say, they aren’t the only ones on campus going through this transition.

The SOAR application is open now. Why should someone apply to be a SOAR Leader?  You should apply to be a SOAR Leader because it is an amazing opportunity for students of all
majors and backgrounds! You learn a multitude of life skills while doing SOAR, including time management, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving just to name a few.

It is a really fun job and the staff really support and care about each other, you grow very close with everyone! Plus, you get free housing and a meal plan for the Summer, which is definitely a perk!
Besides, who doesn’t want to rock the iconic polo and khakis?

You are a commuter student. Can you share resources you have used as a commuter student and share tips for students commuting to campus now? As a commuter student, I was a little worried at the beginning of my freshman year about making connections on campus and not having the support that I may need. However, I was proven so wrong. There are so many things to do on campus that help you build connections, whether that be SAC movies nights or joining organizations.

As commuters, we also have just as many academic connections as residents. The Bear CLAW is one resource that I highly, highly recommend for anyone in need of tutoring or extra help with a class! My biggest tip is to just make sure you manage your time well. Make sure you leave for class early enough to find parking, walk to your building, sit down, and get settled before your class actually starts. You will feel so much more prepared and less frazzled than being late or right on time every day.