Hello Missouri State! My name is Aubrey, and I’m a new Peer Mentor in the CAST office. I’m excited to share my experiences and thoughts throughout the semester! For this week’s post, I wanted to start off by introducing myself.

Who are you?

I am a sophomore from Joplin, Missouri majoring in special needs education. I’m thinking about declaring a minor although this is a thought I need to spend more time on. I absolutely love my major and I’m finally in classes related to it! I’m also involved in several organizations on campus, including Alpha Sigma Alpha, Bear Power, Peer Leading, and Unified Sports.

Why did you choose MSU?

When I toured Missouri State University as a senior I fell in love with the environment on campus. It was my first college tour so I was nervous that I would feel the same way everywhere I toured. When I visited every campus on my list my decision was easy because Missouri State stood out among the rest. I felt included and welcomed my first time on campus and have found that statement to be true since that day.

What is your favorite study spot?

My freshman year was trial and error discovering what spot on campus worked best for me. What I have come to find out is that I study better in different locations for different classes. I love the PSU because it’s a central location on campus and it has dining options if I happen to need a pick-me-up. For my stressful classes, I try to find a study spot outside like the Glass Hall balcony or out by the fountains. I also find it fun to try new locations when I am losing motivation and that is how I discovered the Pummill study location.

What was one thing you worried about before you started at MSU? How did you deal with it once you were here? 

I was worried I was going to never want to leave. I know that sounds awful but I was truly so excited to get started at Missouri State that I feared I would never want to go home. While this made my transition easy it also created issues when breaks would approach. I eventually learned how grateful I was to be in a position where I loved my university and community so much that it was hard to leave instead of complaining that I had to leave. With this changed mindset, I was able to enjoy time with family and appreciate my Springfield community all the more when I returned. I do still struggle with the idea of leaving for long breaks but short breaks have now become an enjoyable “time off” for me.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about me! I look forward to writing more blogs and sharing more of my struggles and victories. Until next time, Bear Up!

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, a sophomore studying special needs education. Fun fact: I group up on a farm.)