Time’s Up – Michael’s Final Blog Post

After 4 long years of college and three great years at MSU, my time has finally come to an end. I have experienced so many great things during my time in college, and I am finding it hard to believe I’ve made it here. Because this is my final blog post, I figured I would reminisce about my experience here at MSU, and what the future holds for me next.

Where It All Began

Back when I was in high school, I had the opportunity to visit Missouri State for a campus tour. During this visit, I fell in love immediately. The campus was amazing, and the people I met during the visit made me feel like this could truly be my home. From that day, I knew I would go to MSU in the future. However, my parents and I had decided I would do my first year at Metropolitan Community College – Longview, so I had to wait. Luckily, MSU made my transfer experience easy, and even set me up with an advisor who helped me plan out my coursework before I even came.

A Big Change

When my sophomore year rolled around, I got to transfer to MSU in the Fall of 2019. Luckily, with some experience I had at Longview, I was able to help start the peer counseling program that I still do today with the Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST), giving me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and students over the next few years. Along with this, I had officially started my journey as a cell and molecular biology major in the College of Health and Human Services! One of the best things about MSU is that, even though I was a transfer, I had so much help finding my way around campus and getting integrated into my coursework.

Trying to Do the Most I Can

The Center for Academic Success and Transition that I work for had begun to grow significantly, which was a sign of good things to come. I got to give speeches during events, volunteer at special gatherings for students, meet with my peers one-on-one to help them, and so much more. I always wanted to make sure I was doing all I could to make a change here at the university, and in the long run I hope I did something to make MSU a better place. With all of this going on, I worked hard as a CMB major in preparation for entering a graduate program in Genetic Counseling. As some people might know, being a CMB major can be difficult, so I had to put a lot of time into being the best student I could be. Along the way, I met some of the best people that I know will be lifelong acquaintances. Even when things got tough, my professors and peers always found a way to bring me up, and push me to keep moving forward. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be who I am today, so I owe the world to all of them.

Where Am I Now?

As of right now, I was lucky enough to become a CAST Ambassador through the Center for Academic Success and Transition, and I am a BMS 111 Instructor in the Biomedical Science Department. I have had the great opportunity to make a change in students lives with the purpose of helping them become more prepared for the future, which was my dream back when I started all of this. Whether it was through meetings with me one-on-one, or through my teaching in class, I hope I found some way to make those students lives a little bit better. Because some people may have been wondering, I have recently been accepted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Science’s Genetic Counseling program for their 2024 class! Because of my rigorous work as a CMB major, it not only helped me become a qualified applicant, but it helped me grow into the student I always wanted to be.

What Comes Next?

As of right now, I am set to graduate in a few weeks, which is scary! I feel like MSU is my home, and I am finding difficult to leave, but I know that I have a bright future ahead of me. I will start my Genetic Counseling program in August of this year after moving to Little Rock, Arkansas, and I am so excited. However, I will make sure to keep in touch with things here at MSU. My time as a student success advocate has shown me that each and every person at this campus cares for it’s students, and every student has the potential to be amazing.

Because this is my final blog post, I wanted to give out some thanks. First, I want to thank CAST for giving me the opportunity to do these great things during my time at MSU, because it has given me so much joy every day. I wanted to thank everyone who has followed along with me for the past two years of doing these blog posts. I truly care about making things better for those who attend Missouri State, and  I hope that these posts find their way to the people who need to see them. Last, I want to thank everyone at Missouri State that I got to work with over my time as a student, teacher, and student success worker. You have all made me realize that Missouri State is an amazing place, and anyone would be lucky to come here. Although I am leaving, I will always be an MSU bear, and I know that someday I will be back. Until then, good luck and thank you for being here!

The semester has been going by so fast and it is really getting close to final exams.  

Throughout the semester, I have been trying to get used to being back on campus after being at home since the pandemic started. Coming back to Missouri State was a huge decision to make, and more followed since then. As a student, you are deciding where your money goes, and in most cases that is towards tuition, food, and outside activities. I utilize parts of the money that I save to pay my tuition and to buy the weekly necessities like toilet paper. Learning or figuring out how to save money as a student is a challenge because you are balancing other things in your life. Throughout the semester I have re-taught myself how to save money, find good deals, and just avoid unnecessary purchases. I like to have fun outside of classes and be able to purchase things when I need them, so money is a key factor in my life.  

I want to share the top things that I do to save money through finding good deals and avoiding unnecessary purchases so that you can utilize this information and become more financially comfortable.  

Saving Money 

Avoid Unnecessary Purchases 

One of the things that always gets to me when I shop is seeing new things or finding great deals for items that I do not really need. I try to keep my mindset on what I need, not what I want because I would like to have lots of things. However, wanting unnecessary things can be a problem for my bank account. I tend to change my mindset when I am shopping for fun so that there are boundaries. Once those boundaries are created then you can see a return in your account, just like I did. 

Shopping Boundaries  

In order to avoid buying the things you don’t need, it’s important to set boundaries that can stop you from making those purchases. I like to have a set budget or create a list of what I need so that I don’t get off track. After you purchase what you need, that money that was saved after making those purchases can go towards things you want or future activities. I like going out with my friend and exploring the parts of Springfield that I’ve never seen before.  

Finding Good Deals  

Paying full price for things is simply fine, but when I can find a good deal, I tend to take advantage of online extensions and student offers. Missouri State has a coupon book with great deals inside it that you can pick up at Meyer Library and you can sometimes catch some deals on the bulletin board area in Plaster Student Union. Some websites do offer student discounts if you are a university student so that you can avoid paying full prices. I also use online extensions that have coupons and deals that you would not be able to find online just to make shopping easier. 

Takeaways  

Being an adult and being a student can be really hard because not only are you trying to further your education, but you are also trying to do things on your own without going broke. I have been using the methods that I have shared for a while, fortunately they have saved me big and small amounts of money. Information like this can last you for a lifetime and help you out when you need it the most, so I encourage you to see if this information can help you or the people in your life. To help you out even more, take a look at Missouri State’s resources to help you manage your costs of being a student.  

~Alexandria  

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

 

The Best Places to Take Photos on Campus

I hope everyone is having a brilliant spring! I’ve been spending lots of time outside recently to watch the flowers start to bloom and the trees grow back their leaves. This has inspired me, so I plan to take some time to go around campus with friends to take spring pictures. It is so important to take time to relax and spend with your friends. Having a photoshoot around campus is a great way to get outside to enjoy nature, laugh with friends, and create memories to look back on once you graduate. So I thought I could share with you all the places we like to go for the perfect background!

 The Vine Wall

A well-known classic around the MSU campus, the wall between the Plaster Student Union and Wells House is a gorgeous spot to take photos all year round, but it really comes to life in the spring! You can choose to have the iconic “Missouri State University” section in the background or go for just the beautiful green vines. Either way, your photo will get an amazing picture.

Blooming Trees in Front of Temple Hall

A lesser-known favorite of mine, the small trees directly in front of the color-coded lecture halls of Temple Hall are a great place to take your spring photos. My friends and I have had the trees in the background, and we’ve even crawled into their space to take photos from within the tree. The white petals surrounded us from all sides and made for a whimsical photo session.

The Stairs of Siceluff Hall

Siceluff Hall is one of the most gorgeous buildings on campus, in my opinion. The front side with the huge staircase that faces Hill Hall is a wonderful spot to take some photos, especially sitting poses. I have always loved the look of pictures where I am sitting on stairs, and that staircase is one of the best on campus!

The Fountain

Of course, I simply cannot make a list of the best places to take photos on campus without mentioning the fountain. Everyone knows it, everyone loves it! Just in front of Meyer Library, our fountain is the iconic center piece of Missouri State’s campus, and everyone should get a photo with it if given the chance. Be on the look out for Fountain Day, the glorious day that they turn the fountain back on after its winter snooze! This year, it is scheduled for April 12th, and there will be some fun festivities around as well!

Behind the PSU

The area right behind Plaster Student Union is filled with large rocks, trees, and pretty flowers in the spring. It is not only a great place to relax outside, but also a wonderful spot for a photoshoot. I love taking photos sitting on the rocks!

Takeaways

I hope that you like my suggestions and might think about going out to take some beautiful spring photos with your friends! I know that when I leave here one day, I will look back on these pictures fondly and remember the good times I had here at MSU.

Thank you for reading! I will leave you with this quote from Dorothea Lange,

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”

(Bio: My name is Georgia Grace Wright, a junior at MSU majoring in Communication Studies. I also have minors in both Creative Writing and Anthropology.)  

Tips for Being a Successful College Student

During my time working in the Center for Academic Success and Transition, I have worked with students helping them through their difficulties in hopes of improving their academic success. Now that I will be leaving MSU soon, I wanted to share some of my greatest tips for being successful in college.

Time Means Everything

The first tip I always give students is to build good time managing skills. As a college student, it is not uncommon to balance a lot of things at once. For some people this can be very daunting. Knowing this, I think managing time has a lot of benefits. Students don’t only manage coursework; they also sustain relationships, work jobs, and find time to maintain their own mental health. Time management allows someone to realize that there is always time to keep up with all of these things by cutting out time for each. This way, you won’t have to feel like you have to pick and choose the things that you are able to do during your college experience.

Make Your Missouri Statement

A lot of us came to college knowing that focusing on education is imperative. However, I think some students overlook the other opportunities that arise during college. Even though we are all students, I think it is important to branch out and be a part of Missouri State. Each and every one of us plays a role in making this university a great place, so don’t be afraid to try out new things. It could be intramural sports, student government association, tutoring in the BearClaw, or even just showing up to events held on campus. Regardless of what it is, there are so many things to get into during your time at MSU.

Don’t Take the Journey Alone

This may be one of the things I stress the most. College may be the most difficult time of your life. It can be stressful, tiring, and a lot to handle at some times. Because of this, doing your best to build a network of peers is a great idea. Believe me when I say that you are not alone in the journey. In every part of the campus, there is someone in the same boat as you. Making friends and acquaintances allows you to feel like there is someone you can always go to for help. They can be a study buddy, someone who you hang out with during your free time, or even someone to talk to when things get tough. We are all going to face tough times as we go along, so its best that we stick together and help each other make it though.

There is No Such Thing as a Dumb Question

The last tip I will leave you with is one that hits close to home with me. As a student, we have to remember that we are not going to know everything all the time. Being a student is a learning process where we are trying to find the answers to things that will help us in the future. Sometimes, however, you may need a little extra guidance when trying to learn. Because of this, I have learned that it is never a bad idea to ask questions. Especially here at MSU. All of the faculty and staff are here to help us be the best students we can. Especially with our professors, they all want us to learn, and there is nobody better to ask than someone who is eager to help you find the answer.

I hope that each of these tips gives you a little insight into becoming a great student here at MSU. If you ever need more help, remember it is okay to reach out and ask for it, because all of us are here to help. 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 science.)