A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Spring 2021 Week 12 – Rhiannon

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Favorite things to do in Springfield

This blog post goes hand in hand with a post from a couple weeks ago in which Alexandria discussed her top five favorite places on campus. She lists some great places—I recommend you give her post a read.

Sometimes, though, it’s good to get off campus. It gives you the opportunity to get out of your own head, to take a break from classes and studying, to explore the local community and more. Below is a list of some of my favorite places and things to do in Springfield.

For me, these places represent memories that I have come to cherish. From going to the Wonders of Wildlife when I was little (before they remodeled, of course) to going to a minor league Cardinals game to even competing at tournaments. I hope the following list makes you remember memories, too—or helps you create new ones! Enjoy 🙂

  • Shakespeare at the Columns
    • They present live, free-admission Shakespeare plays at Springfield Art Museum’s outdoor amphitheater every summer. You can find them on Facebook.
    • You can give donations if you like but it is not required.
  • MMASC Karate Tournament
    • If you want to watch another sporting event or if, like me, you are a martial artist and want to go to a tournament, this is a great place to do it. Here is their Facebook page for more information.

~Rhiannon

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

Spring 2021 Week 11 – Michael

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A Week in the Life of a Cell and Molecular Biology Major

At some point in college all of us will come around and find out what major we fall into. Usually our choice lines up with our end career goal or a research interest that we want to study one day. But have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a different major for a day? Well, luckily today I am going to share what it’s like to be a Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) major!

Whenever I tell people that I am a CMB major, they usually cringe and tell me it’s too much science for them. Little do they know that’s the best part! Because of all the science we do in our major, every class we take is always something a little bit different. This semester I have four different classes: Molecular Cell Biology (BMS 521), Peer Instruction in Biomedical Sciences (BMS 490), Introduction to Physics II (PHY 124) and Abnormal Psychology (PSY 304).

In BMS 521, we learn about the small processes and cell functions that make life possible. For me and other students who are planning on going into a medical field, it is important to understand the little complexities of the human body. BMS 521 also has a lab attached to it. This year we have a semester-long experiment revolving around a desensitization pathway in our cells. This requires us to be in and out of the lab many times throughout the week, culturing cells, making solution calculations and observing changes in our cells that lead to a better understanding of what we are trying to study.

BMS 490 is a class that gives undergraduate students a view into the life of a professor and shows us ways that we can help teach students. In my case, I work with a professor in her BMS 321 (Biomolecular Interactions) lab. Throughout the week, I do lab prep, zoom meetings with the students and help facilitate labs that the students do during the semester. Along with this, I meet with the other students in BMS 490 once a week to talk about teaching strategies and how we can use our own past experiences to make a better learning experience for students taking the labs. This course really does give a great opportunity to step up and do something for the students following in our footsteps, while also reinforcing our own knowledge and interest in our field.

Although I am a CMB major, I also have the opportunity to dive into some other fields of science. In the case of Physics 2, we get to learn things about electromagnetic fields and magnetism. Believe it or not, learning physics can teach us a lot about medical machinery and even some cell processes driven by physics concepts. Who would’ve guessed!

My last course this semester is Abnormal Psychology. This class is very interesting, and I know many people agree with me. As the name describes, we learn about people who face psychological disorders that cause distress in their lives and how those people can find help. I get a lot out of this course because it gives me another way to understand people and be able to help them in any way they need!

It is true that my week consists of a lot of reading and lab work that is required to be successful as a CMB major. In some people’s eyes, this may seem horrible and hard to keep up with, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Every day I go to class or the lab I learn more and more about how the world and the human body works. In the end, I hope to be a genetic counselor and use all the knowledge from my classes to help people one day! In my opinion, as long as you love what you’re doing, you can never go wrong!

(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.)

Spring 2021 Week 10 – Alexandria

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Welcome Back Bears!

It’s been a few days since spring break ended and classes have started up again. Even though midterms have passed that doesn’t mean that the work stops, so I wanted to introduce you to some of my favorite places on campus. College can be a great experience but also stressful; having some great places to go on campus can help you out. I find myself at these places when I want to relieve some stress, get some work done or just meet up with friends to talk.

My top five favorite places on campus

1. Glass Hall

When I got the chance to tour Missouri State for the first time, Glass instantly became my favorite building on campus. There are tons of places to sit inside the building and it has one of the best places to grab something to eat on campus: Einstein Bros. Bagels.

2. Meyer Library

Did you know there are quite a few things you can do at the library that don’t involve reading or studying? Meyer Library occasionally has an exhibit going on that you might find interesting. There are movie DVDs that you can check out when you like. Let me not forget to mention that there is also a Starbucks, so when you need a quick snack or pick-me-up you have an additional place to go.

3. John Q Hammons Fountain

The fountain has to be at the top of everyone’s list as their favorite place on campus. When the weather is just right or if you just want to take a load off, it’s one of the best places to be. You can study by the fountain, eat or just meet up with some friends in your free time. You can catch some pretty good photo opportunities when you’re there, too.

4. Plaster Student Union (PSU)

When I want to shop for a few things or catch a bite to eat and study, this a good place to be on campus as well. The PSU houses helpful MSU offices such as Study Away Programs and the Multicultural Resource Center, as well as some of my favorite fast-food places like Chick-Fil-A and Subway. There are many things to do while you visit the PSU, so I highly recommend it.

5. The Missouri State Bookstore

I really like the bookstore on campus: there are a ton of things you can buy from gift bags to electronics, not to mention how nice everyone is if you have questions or need help finding something. With so much to see inside the store, there are reasons to visit beyond getting new gear or picking up class materials.

Take Away

Campus is such a vast and fun place to be, but it can be overwhelming when you’re trying to balance your mental health and focus on your work. Even though I’m not on campus right now, I remember how finding my happy places kept me together. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, I thought now would be a good time to share those happy places with you.

~Alexandria

(Bio: I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a junior business major at Missouri State University.)

 

 

Spring 2021 Week 9 – Michael

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A Meeting with a Familiar Face

Talking to faculty is one of the greatest resources students have at any university. Faculty knowledge and experience go such a long way in helping us figure out where we want to go in life. I figured today I would share a meeting I had last week that definitely helped me get my head straight about what I want to do from here on out!

I am about to enter my last year at Missouri State. As most people know, coming near the end of your college career can be scary, especially the idea of not knowing what comes next. I feel this right now. I am currently planning on pursuing a masters in genetic counseling and I have a lot of decisions to make about where I am heading.

I ran into a previous professor of mine a couple weeks back and decided it would be nice to catch up with her and talk about some things. She is a professor in the biomedical sciences department and was my genetics professor during my sophomore year here at MSU. She knows that genetic counseling is the field I want to pursue, so she was willing to talk to me and give me some pointers. During our meeting, we discussed how I have been doing since taking her genetics class, including my peer counseling position and my current classes. After that she asked if I had any questions about genetic counseling. Through her experience as a medical geneticist, she knows a lot about genetic counseling. She told me what to expect in a genetic counseling job, schools with good programs and what things make somebody prepared for going into genetic counseling. Once we were done, we said our goodbyes and made sure to find a time to meet again.

This professor gave me so much amazing information that I feel a lot better about what I am doing with my future.

As simple as these little meetings are, they can go a long way. When you are faced with a difficult decision or aren’t sure where you are heading in life, it is always good to get help. Whether that is an academic advisor, a teacher, a staff member, or even a friend, getting advice can be very useful.

(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.)

Spring 2021 Week 9 – Rhiannon

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Spring Break is literally around the corner, which means we are getting closer to the finish line, Bears. That makes this the perfect week for me to dive into favorite places to study on and near campus.

Depending on your mood, different study spots on campus may lend themselves well to your workflow. Whether you’re a social studier or prefer privacy, there is bound to be a study spot for you!!

My list of my absolute favorite places to study are:

  1. Potter’s House
    • I don’t know about you, but this place just gives off a homey feel. The smell of coffee and the chatter of others make it all the sweeter. You can also go up the stairs for more of a quiet space.
  2. Second floor of Glass Hall
    • If you prefer a modern vibe while studying, the booths on the second floor of Glass Hall may be the perfect spot. There is a large open-access computer lab for students on this floor, so you can easily print papers or notes. It also has many spacious booths to spread out, especially helpful when studying for a big exam.
  3. Tables by John Q. Hammons Fountain (between Temple Hall and Duane G. Meyer Library)
    • Enjoy the weather at the center of campus, likely in proximity to many of your classes. The fountain offers relief from a hot day walking around campus, so feel free to dip your toes while taking a study break.
      Two students studying at the fountain while holding popsicles
      Photo by Jesse Scheve/MSU
  4. The fourth floor of Plaster Student Union
    • This is the quietest floor of them all over in the PSU, and you can eat while you study. What better way to do it!!
  5. Study Spaces in Meyer library
    • Study rooms are closed right now due to COVID-19; when they reopen, they will be another great option!

Establishing good study habits may take effort but finding the perfect spot to study shouldn’t have to. Let us know your favorite places to study in the comments below, and don’t forget to Bear Up for the semester ahead!

~Rhiannon

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