Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming

Compared to the last year and a half, it seemed like this semester was almost back to normal. It was great getting to see more of us here at campus and I think everything has taken a big step in the right direction. Although this may have brought up some unexpected challenges. Coming back to campus for classes was not always an easy transition; we had gotten so used to waking up, getting breakfast at home and going back to our bedrooms to watch lectures for the day. However, we have almost made it to the end, and everyone should be proud of themselves!

Now, because we are near the end of this semester, I figured I would take some time to help you all think about ways to prepare for the spring semester.

Reflect on the Past

One way to prepare is to reflect on the current semester. No matter how well it went, I think we can all agree that there is always space for improvement. One area to look at is your daily routine. Daily routines can help reduce stress and when you incorporate healthy behaviors, you’ll see benefits to your academic, emotional and social life. Look for practices that worked well for you this semester and that you want to continue. Then identify a new activity that you want to focus on during the coming semester. Some examples could be:

• Making sure to eat breakfast every morning
• Maintaining a better sleep schedule
• Studying earlier for exams
• Keeping up with regular exercise

Although seemingly obvious, it takes time to build up habits such as these. But persevere! Building habits is an important skill at the professional level; it gets you more in tune with your daily responsibilities and helps make sure you get everything done. Additionally, being able to improve on the things you struggled with in the past will allow you to progress into being a better student.

Make Your Missouri Statement

Missouri State offers great opportunities for students to begin branching out and trying new things. Something to think about next semester is how you can go out and get involved on campus! Some ways to get involved on campus could be:

• Finding a club or organization that you are interested in
• Partaking in intramural sports
• Becoming a tutor at the Bear Claw
• Attending campus events (click ‘View by Week’ for an easy way to see this week’s events)
• Finding ways to connect with the community

Being a Missouri State student isn’t all about getting good grades. It’s also about growing as a person and gaining experiences that will help you reach your goals. And in my opinion, MSU is one of the greatest schools for that.

Reach Out for Help

The last thing I want to mention is that you are never alone. If you did struggle academically this semester and feel like you may need some guidance, remember that Missouri State offers many resources to guide you through your academic career. You could contact us here in the Center for Academic Success and Transition, reach out to the Bear Claw for tutoring or even begin making relationships with your professors.

For personal, social and life-planning concerns, reach out to the Counseling Center. Missouri State’s Guide to Services page has links to many other support services available here. No matter what it is, don’t ever be afraid to ask for help, because we all want to help you become the best Bear you can be!

I hope that this gave you some ideas about how you can prepare for next semester. As always, thank you for reading!

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