How are you guys doing so far? I’ve been doing pretty well since the start of quarantine and now that the semester is over, I can focus on things that I haven’t before.

As of right now a couple of places are starting to open back up to the public but in my opinion it’s a little too soon for that. My younger sister (age 7) and I have really weak immune systems. When we get sick, it lasts a long time and we just have a harder time fighting off illnesses. On the other side of the spectrum, I do understand that businesses need to make money and everything can’t stay closed forever. Nevertheless, I’m going to remain in quarantine until things become clearer.

I’m prepping for my summer math class this week and next week. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what to expect out of having an online summer class through Missouri State, but I am getting myself ready for it regardless.

In other news, despite staying in my house, I’m excited because I’m turning twenty in about twelve days. Although it’s a big deal to my mom, I just want to chill out with my family while eating all the food I couldn’t before. Even more recently there have been other issues happening during this pandemic but I’m staying informed and staying close to those important to me.

“Look around you. Appreciate what you have. Nothing will be the same in a year.” Unknown.

~Alexandria

(Bio: My name is Alexandria Givens, and I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a sophomore business major at Missouri State University.)

It’s been a long time since I gave an update, but I really needed to sit back and do an entire reset over everything in my life. My finals came to an end last week, but I had been experiencing burn out throughout the entire semester. Now that the Spring 2020 semester is over, I’ve been taking time to evaluate how I did certain things and to distance myself from college work. I’ve been doing my usual stress relievers plus a couple of new ones like meditation, really hot showers, and connecting more with my younger siblings.

Having the semester completed has really been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and has significantly helped me to mentally and physically calm down. This semester had to be one of the toughest that I’ve had so far. I knew it would be tough going into the semester, after seeing my schedule, but I’m always pushing myself to reach my goals. Now that I am aware of where my mind is, I can finally prepare myself for some of the things that I can experience and stop beating myself up over every little thing.

I figured this time would serve as a good eye-opener for some people. No one in my family is a college student, but they always try to help me in some capacity and I’m grateful for that. It’s good to be aware of what others go through, in case you experience it or just to stay in the know.

Now that I have more free time, it’s going to be easier for me to throw out some more updates and let you know how everything is going for me. Quarantine is probably going to get a lot more interesting on my end because my summer online class is starting up soon and I need to prepare myself for that. But otherwise, I’m happy and ready for the summer weather.

~Alexandria

(Bio: My name is Alexandria Givens, and I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a sophomore business major at Missouri State University.)

It’s been about two months since I’ve been home due to COVID-19 and this week had to be one of the most challenging since having online classes. Plus, final exams are starting this Saturday for me and continuing until next Thursday, which is a long time to be stressed out.

This semester, before and definitely during this pandemic, has to be one of the hardest semesters for me and all of my friends. Unfortunately, my stress and anxiety levels haven’t been the best and I can tell that I’m suffering physically and mentally. Since the beginning of this pandemic, I’ve done a lot of thinking about my future, including whether I’m sure about my career path or if I want to continue going to Missouri State or take a different route.

Having a mixture of my own thoughts and finals trying to prioritize themselves in my mind hasn’t been the best. And the anxiety and stress from preparing for finals has led to me getting migraines, horrible stomach aches and, lately, neck spasms. But I have some pretty great people to back me up when I need help and, thanks to some chats with them, I’ve been doing so much better.

If you didn’t know, I’m a peer counselor in the CAST office (Center for Academic Success and Transition) and I work closely with my two bosses, Dr. Kelly Wood and Dr. Tracey Glaessgen, in addition to the other two peer counselors, Rhiannon Casey and Michael Rexroad. (Rhiannon and Michael have blog posts here too.) They have all been a big help in steering me in the right direction, giving me advice when I need it or just being a listening ear. My family has also been there to hear me rant about my classes or help me solve my problems. Without them being there for me, cheering me on, I wouldn’t know what to do.

I’m going to continue to relieve stress by spending time with my family or just doing an abundance of random fun things. I’ve learned that I’m not doing my best work or being myself when I let the stress consume me so much.

What I would like for you to take from this is that stress or anxiety can affect anyone and it’s okay for that to happen because you can bounce back or lessen it altogether. After this semester I’ll be a junior at Missouri State and every time a day passes, I’m so much closer to getting my degree in business and becoming the only child in my family to graduate from a four-year college. I don’t know about you but that’s its own motivation for me.

“I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside.” — Wayne Dyer

~Alexandria

(Bio: My name is Alexandria Givens, and I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a sophomore business major at Missouri State University.)

There is a part of me that is ready for Spring 2020 to be over, done and in the past. Then there is that other part of me that is thankful for this time for self-reflection.

As this semester is ending, I have been thinking about everything that I have missed during this COVID-19 pandemic. The late-night movies alone in my dorm room, the cookies and chat with a girl in my wing, the meetings of the Honor Society for which I am now Vice President.

However, I am thankful for the time I have had at Missouri State so far. I went through recruitment for Xi Omicron Iota and an Honor Fraternity. I met three amazing girls during the recruitment process of XiOm. Before we left campus, I had the opportunity to meet our University President and the new Department Head of Marketing. It has been an honor to meet them both.

As we have gone fully online, however, I have also gotten to reconnect with my Arkansas roots. Yes, I am from Arkansas, don’t judge me!

To our three graduating TA’s, Colton Franklin, Melanie Morgan and Korra Ackerson, congrats! You did it! Now is your time to go out into this unpredictable world and work your magic! We are all proud of you and know that you all will do great things.

~Rhiannon

(Bio: My name is Rhiannon Casey, a transfer student from Arkansas State University. I am currently a Junior Marketing Major with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotions.)

It’s The Final Countdown

The time has come: finals week. Per usual, finals week is always a stressful time for all of us, and I can tell that I’m feeling it. I definitely didn’t expect the semester to turn out the way it did, and something also makes me feel glad that we at least made it to the end.

Take a Deep Breath

Now, I can guarantee that I’m not the only one who is slightly stressed about finals. However, I think that good preparation will be key. Since we are home, we have plenty of time to get studying done! Also, I want to make sure to meet with and email my teachers as much as I can in order to receive help. Plus, coming up with a schedule for the week will be really important. Keeping track of your tests and when to study is always a good idea to help us stay on track.

Don’t Stop Believing

Along with our stress, I understand that a lot of us will face fear and anxiety as well. With this in mind, I think that there is one thing everyone should remember going into finals: There is always an opportunity to do amazing. No matter how you stand in a class or how the past few months have gone, there is always a chance to do amazing on the final! So this semester, go in facing finals with confidence and I know we can do great.

~Michael

(Bio: My name is Michael Rexroad, a transfer student from Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. I am a junior currently studying cell and molecular biology with a minor in chemistry.)