A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Archives for February 2023

Who Inspires Me-Ruby Bridges (Spring 2023, Week 6)

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Hello Bears and welcome back to the blog for this week. I hope the last few weeks have been kind to you and that your classes are going well.  

The semester is going well for me but it’s a little bittersweet because this is one of my very last blog posts before graduation in May. However, I am taking everything one day at a time because rushing things never works.  

I wanted to start the semester with a blog post about someone who inspired me growing up and continues to do so as I get older. That person is American civil rights activist, Ruby Bridges.  

Ruby Bridges  

Ruby Bridges was one of the first African American students at the age of six to integrate a school in the south. Ruby integrated a school in the south because in 1954 the Supreme Court ruling of Brown v. The Board of Education ordered that all schools desegregate. She was one of a few students that passed the entry exam given by the state to see if African American students were on a similar level as their counterparts. Ruby and her family endured a significant amount of racism every day that she attended school. She had to be escorted everywhere and couldn’t even go to recess with the other kids. Ruby was the only student in her class because parents pulled their children out of the school and only one teacher, Barbara Henry, agreed to teach her. Ruby never stopped going to school so as time passed she paved the way for other African American children to attend schools that were desegregated like hers. Today, Ruby Bridges is 68 years old, a mother, and wife, as she remains a lifelong activist for racial equality.  

Why? 

Black history is a big part of what I learned in school and what my parents taught me about when I was at home. The first time I heard about Ruby Bridges I had to be around seven or eight years old and I was just starting to learn and understand more about black history so I didn’t have any idea about who she was. When I learned about Ruby’s story and what she went through as a little girl, I just never forgot about it. A young girl and her family endured so much and regardless of that, they stayed strong. I couldn’t imagine someone just being six years old and having the strength and willingness to do what she did and go against so many that hated the idea of desegregation. Ruby Bridges and so many other people contributed to my future in terms of my schooling and education making it easier for me to be where I am today. Without people like Ruby Bridges, I wouldn’t be able to have met the people that I have, attend Missouri State, or just be given the same opportunities as everyone else. One of my goals had always been to go to college and graduate but without people like Ruby Bridges that might not have ever been possible. I’ve learned to keep my head up, stay strong in the hardest of situations and be the change that I want to see. Ruby Bridges is an individual that has inspired me with her achievements, resilience, and overall dedication to achieving her goals. 

Takeaways 

There are a lot of people that have helped me to become more successful but without any inspiration, drive, or motivation I probably wouldn’t have gotten this far. I hope that sharing someone who inspires me could make you think about who that someone or something could be for you. Feeling inspired can play a role in your everyday life from creating ideas to just taking action and doing something you’ve always wanted to do. Your journey as a college student is going to have its moments but having some sort of inspiration can get you through it. Finding inspiration can be a bit hard so try looking in the most unexpected places.  

Be sure to take a look at some past blog posts and be on the lookout for all new topics.

Happy Week Six!!! 

~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.) 

Maintaining a Healthy Sleep Schedule (Spring 2023, Week 5)

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Maintaining a Healthy Sleep Schedule 

Greetings, Bears! I am so happy to be back again writing blogs this semester. This week, I’m focusing on a topic near and dear to me—sleep. There are many important factors that go into being a successful college student, but one of the most valuable (and honestly most overlooked) things that can make or break a student’s journey to success is sleep. How much sleep you’re getting can very much change how much energy you have throughout the day, as well as how effectively you’re able to focus and retain information, which are all key factors to doing well in any college class. For today’s blog post, I’m going to share some ways that I have maintained a healthy sleep schedule. 

Go to Bed and Wake Up at the Same Time Every Day 

One of the easiest ways to change your current sleep schedule into something better and healthier for you is to ensure that you’re going to sleep at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning. If you’re like me and you don’t like having a solid schedule, don’t worry! There are ways to do this without it feeling too restrictive. As long as you plan to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day, you can still plan to do things that you enjoy before or after that time. What is most important is that you’re consistent, so that your body can develop a routine. Make sure that you finish homework, studying, or other important things before your assigned bedtime. If you’re wondering how much time you should budget for sleep, that leads me to my next point! 

Get 7 to 9 Hours of Sleep Every Night 

College students, for the most part, get much less sleep than they need to. When you’re an adult, a healthy amount of sleep is between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, but how much you need can vary depending on a lot of different things. It might be beneficial to experiment just a little bit at first to see what amount within that two-hour span works and feels best for you. After doing so, you can budget that amount of time within your sleep schedule. Once you establish this routine, you’ll probably notice that you feel better and more energized! 

Improve Your Quality of Sleep 

Getting enough sleep is very important, but the overall quality of the sleep you’re getting is even more so. There are many things that you might be doing that could negatively impact how you’re sleeping without you even knowing it. Some things that you can be mindful of when it comes to improving your quality of sleep are ensuring that you’re avoiding caffeine or large meals before bedtime, as well as staying off of electronics as you’re getting ready to go to sleep. It also helps to avoid naps during the day and stay active so that it’s easier for you to fall asleep at night. Like I said before, there are many things that you could be doing to improve your overall sleep quality, so if you’re wanting to know more, do some research! Tips for better sleep are not hard to come by, especially on the internet.  

Takeaways 

I hope that you enjoyed this blog post, and that you feel inspired to change up your sleeping habits if you haven’t done so already. Even though it can seem tedious, crafting and maintaining a consistent and thought-out sleep schedule will only benefit you. If you’re still wanting to know more about what you can do to make sure you’re getting enough good quality sleep, there are some great resources on campus. Magers Health and Wellness Center is hosting an upcoming Wellness Wednesday event on March 29th that is focused on sleep. Be sure to check that out if you want more information!

Keep working hard, and as always, Go Bears! 

~Hallie  

(Bio: I am a sophomore out-of-state student studying Creative Writing and Philosophy.) 

Getting Crafty Eating Outside of the Dorm (Spring 2023 Week 4)

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Getting Crafty Eating Outside of the Dorm

Why do students want to explore options outside the dining hall?

Maybe you miss your family’s traditional comfort foods, maybe you’ve seen a shift in your gut health since at the start of the school year, or maybe you just really want to add to your list of recipes to try. Whatever the case might be, there are some great options to explore outside the dining halls.

Tips/ideas for getting crafty with what you have

Luckily Missouri State doesn’t leave us stranded, and we do have the student union that gives a handful of options for some of our favorite fast food chains. The Plaster Student Union offers a quick and convenient option for those of us that are on the go or those who are craving some fries and frozen custard. All dorms are also equipped with a community kitchen if you wish to try out some cooking of your own. One way to get crafty if you crave adventure is to utilize the gadgets the dining halls provide. Some of my favorites are the panini press machine, toaster, microwave, and the mini pancake maker. On Fridays when my friend and I didn’t have a class immediately following our trip to the dining hall, we would explore our abilities at the panini machine, and we began to call ourselves experts in the field. The small convenience stores on campus (located in the PSU, Hammons House, and Bear Park South) are all great resources if you are looking for a quick frozen meal to pop in the microwave for a night in. Missouri State is continuing to add services to our campus to provide alternative options, and I highly encourage everyone to try them out.

The benefit of friends

One way I have found to get the taste of homemade food I had long missed was by making friends with peers older than me. Through organization involvement, I have gained some amazing friends who have the resources to cook in the comfort of their homes. What I like to do is split the cost, or help clean while conversing with these friends. It is a great way to spend time together, and eat a good meal, and I always walk away having learned something new. Another option is to find a friend you can meal prep with. I personally haven’t done this, but I know others who enjoy cooking together and splitting the proportions to serve each other throughout the week. Next time you make plans with a friend who has a kitchen, maybe ask if they would like to cook together as an activity!

Couponing

The very last tip I have for getting crafty outside the walls of the dorm is couponing. Grocery shopping can be daunting as a college student especially when you are budgeting so going in with a few coupons helps guide you. I would pick out the free newspaper in the lobby of my dorm and cut out any coupons that appealed to me and my roommates, and we would use them throughout the week to add a change in routine while not spending too much to do so. Using this technique got me out of the dorm gave me experience shopping for food as a single person and not for a whole family, and gave me the responsibility I was longing for.

Conclusion

I would be lying if I said I don’t miss the dining hall at times. It truly is a convenience to walk down to the dining hall and have a meal ready especially now that I am in charge of feeding myself throughout the week. However, I was a freshman too, and I know that sometimes eating in the dining hall is the last thing you want to do and so I hope I’ve sparked some creativity through this post.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf

~Aubrey

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

Introducing Open Hours (Spring 2023 Week 3)

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We are open poster announcing details of open hours

Welcome back to MSU students! We are a few weeks in, and the energy is back on campus. Like any semester, there are some new changes on campus to guide students to success further – one of those changes being here in the CAST office! This semester, we are introducing Open Hours! This is something new our office is trying, and we want to make sure to advertise to anyone who is interested.

Our Open Hours serve the purpose of letting students drop in at their own convenience to meet with a Peer Mentor or Success Coach without previously scheduling or requesting an appointment. If you aren’t familiar with the difference between a Peer Mentor and a Success Coach, visit the Student Academic Assistance page on the CAST website.

Open Hour Details:

  • Success Coach:
    • Wednesdays from 12:00-2:00
    • Tuesdays from 12:30-3:00
    • Topics a Success Coach can help with: test preparation, time management, using a planner, and more!
  • Peer Mentor:
    • Mondays from 1:00-2:00
    • Wednesdays from 9:00-10:00
    • Topics a Peer Mentor can help with: using My Missouri State, steps to follow to register for classes or use Trial Schedule Builder, Missouri State resources, and more!

If you wish to try Open Hours, follow the steps below:

  1. Our office is located in Meyer Library room 116. When you walk through the door, you’ll be greeted at the front desk and you can let them know that you are visiting for Open Hours.
  2. You’ll then be paired with a Peer Mentor or Success Coach, who will meet with you either in the CAST office or in a nearby space in the library.
  3. Once your meeting is over, you can schedule a time to consistently meet with a Peer Mentor or Success Coach if you would like.

Reasons you may want to give Open Hours a try:

  1. You are more comfortable in a less formal setting and prefer to drop by at your convenience. While our Open Hours are limited, it does provide a less traditional setting for students.
  2. You aren’t sure if you want to commit to meeting with a Peer Mentor or a Success Coach yet. Utilizing our Open Hours is a great way to familiarize yourself with the CAST office’s resources without a previous or future appointment. 

This is something new the CAST office is trying, and we want your opinion! If you give Open Hours a try, please share your experience with us . We are super excited to be able to support students even more, and we hope that you’ll stop by to come to see us!

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” – Bobby Unser

~Aubrey

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