A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Archives for May 2023

Farewell (Spring 2023, Week 16)

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Alexandria Posing in her graduation stole
Photo credit: Allyson Ly

It’s surreal really- I don’t think that I truly understood the weight of graduating and trying to determine the next steps of my life like I do right now. I’ve been a college student for five years and a peer mentor for three years, nine months, and twenty-nine days. Time definitely went by slowly but the fewer courses that I needed to complete the more time seemed to speed up. This particular blog post is being written because my time as an undergraduate student and peer mentor is coming to a close. As one of the first peer mentors that Missouri State has had, I will be handing over the reins to my present and future colleagues.  

How it started  

I came to Missouri State because I wanted to both experience college for myself and obtain my business degree. I had no clue what college life was going to be like, but I was excited to be in a new place and meet people. I struggled with my responsibilities as a student and as an individual, being away from home for the first time. There were times when I wanted to go home, or I really just missed being around my family, but I worked hard to get through my first year. As a sophomore, I took the advice of a campus staff member and decided to try out an on-campus job because I wanted to pay off my tuition and have money to spend when I needed it. After reading the job description for what was initially called a “peer counselor” I decided to apply for the job and was later hired. Being a peer mentor was my first ever job and I got a chance to experience things that I wouldn’t have otherwise.  

Thank you  

I don’t think anyone really goes into college expecting to leave exactly how they came in. I definitely won’t leave Missouri State the same and I am grateful for that. I learned so much about the campus and just how many resources MSU has to offer its students. I was able to take what I was learning from being a part of the Center for Academic Success and Transitions (CAST) family and help other students around me. I want to thank my bosses, Kelly Wood and Tracey Glaessgen, for taking a chance on me while allowing me to not only grow but help other students in their pursuit of success. Suzanne Mwengi, the CAST secretary, is also someone that I would like to thank because without her guidance and welcoming demeanor I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill my role as a peer mentor. Every person that has been a part of CAST presently and in the past has helped me out in some capacity whether it’s answering my questions, listening to me talk, or just giving me the motivation to keep going. I can sit around and thank every single person that I have encountered but a better use of your time and mine is just saying thank you. Thank you to my CAST family, peer mentors, graduate assistants, and anyone that I was fortunate enough to meet during my time at Missouri State.  

Thoughts  

I realize that life does go on but I’m definitely going to be sad from time to time about closing this chapter of my life. I experienced so much in college from the pandemic to just attempting to become friends with strangers. I’m excited to see where life is going to go after college, including how I’m going to feel about not having morning classes or assignments that need to be turned in.  

Takeaways  

Deciding to come to Missouri State after graduating high school in 2018 was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. I met some of my closest friends, experienced personal growth, and made connections with people that I didn’t expect to. I’m extremely fortunate to have done so much in five years and I can’t wait to see how the peer mentor program develops in the years to come.  

I want to tell you to not be afraid to try things out of your comfort zone and if you do and it doesn’t work out, be ready to try something else. From one student to another, take in every moment that you can, and enjoy your time as a student. 

Thank you again to everyone for contributing and helping me with my success. I’m truly happy with how things have turned out for me and wish all the best to Missouri State Bears. 
 

~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.)   

 

 

A Guide to Course Evaluations (Spring 2023, Week 15)

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Hi again, Bears! This week, I’m covering a topic that I myself have experienced confusion with in the past. Perhaps recently, as you’ve gone onto Blackboard, you’ve gotten that banner notification asking you to complete a survey, or you’ve received an email in your inbox asking for the same thing. If you don’t know what those notifications or emails mean, you are in luck! For this week’s post, I’ll be discussing what those surveys are, why they’re important, and how to fill them out.  

What Are Course Evaluations? 

Those Blackboard and email notifications that ask you to complete a survey are called course evaluations, and you’re most likely seeing them because it’s getting close to the end of the semester. Course Evaluations are exactly like their title makes them sound—the surveys are an opportunity for you to evaluate the courses that you have taken during the current semester. What they look like and the questions that they ask can vary depending on the department or class, but their purpose is the same. Course Evaluations give students the opportunity to voice their opinions about a class experience, and that information is used to change and improve the course for future students. Typically, course evaluations become available towards the end of the semester, and students are given a limited amount of time to fill them out. Most of the time, they’ll ask you typical survey questions, like agree or disagree statements, ranking statements, or multiple choice. Sometimes, there’s even a written response option provided, where you can go into detail about your experience.  

Why Are They Important? 

Course Evaluations offer students a unique opportunity to evaluate almost every aspect of the classes that they’ve been taking, including content, organization, and instructors. The university uses this information provided by students to better the course experience for future students. If you have suggestions for how a course can be improved, a course evaluation is probably the best place to share them. Not only are they convenient, but they’re also anonymous, so your opinion won’t affect you in any way. Course Evaluations are also a great place to discuss anything that you enjoyed about a course, as that can be equally as beneficial as any suggestions for improvements. In the same way that it is important to know what can be done to improve a course, it is just as important to know what a course or an instructor is doing well. You are not required to fill them out, but you should definitely make some time to, as it can only benefit the university and future students.  

How Do I Fill Them Out? 

Course Evaluations are very easy to fill out. When you go into Blackboard and get the banner notification, just click on the blue button that says “Complete the Survey”. That will take you to the evaluations and let you fill out whatever evaluations are open at that time. Sometimes, the time for evaluations are scattered, so every course evaluation may not be open all at once. If there are any evaluations available for you to fill out, you will receive Blackboard or email notifications, and you will continue to receive reminders until you complete them. The evaluations will ask you standard survey questions about the instructor and/or your experience in the course. Answer all of the questions truthfully, and when you’re done, just hit the maroon submit button at the bottom of the page. Your responses will be submitted, and you are done! Course Evaluations typically only take a few minutes to complete, but they can take longer if you include a detailed written response about your experience. If you have any issues accessing an evaluation, check the email you received for tips and who to contact for assistance. One common suggestion is to make sure to use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your web browser. After you complete a course evaluation, you should receive a confirmation via your Missouri State email.  

Takeaways 

Hopefully this information has helped you better understand what course evaluations are, why they are important, and how you can fill them out. If you can, try to make some time before the semester ends to complete your course evaluations. As a student, you deserve to have your voice heard, regardless of your course experience.  

It is so hard to believe that the semester is already coming to a close, but Finals Week is right around the corner! Now, more than ever, it is important to work hard so that you can finish strong. As always, remember that if you are struggling, want to improve your exam study strategies, or you just want to talk to someone, we have great Peer Mentors in the CAST office that you can meet with by dropping in during our Open Hours or by requesting one through our Student Request Form. I hope that you have a great conclusion to your semester! 

~Hallie 

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