A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Archives for August 2023

A Guide to Welcome Weekend (Summer 2023)

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Hi again, Bears! I am happy to be back for another summer blog post. If you are an incoming Bear, you may have heard some buzz about the week before classes start, which we call Welcome Weekend. There are a lot of events that happen at this time, so I decided that I would use my post this week to talk about Welcome Weekend and all of the fun things going on! While move-in and Welcome Weekend is an exciting time for new students, it’s also a lot of information all at once, and can be overwhelming. I hope that, if you are feeling that way, this post eases your worries and makes you even more excited to experience your first weekend on campus! 

The Events 

There are so many different things that go on during Welcome Weekend, and it is truly impossible for me to talk about all of them. I’m going to focus on one event each day of Welcome Weekend, but if you want to know more about everything that goes on during Welcome Weekend, there is a full schedule of events on the Missouri State webpage.  

The first event of Welcome Weekend that is certainly worth mentioning typically takes place on the Thursday of move-in week. This event, kicking off Welcome Weekend, is the Traditions Tour. Missouri State has countless traditions, and this guided tour will introduce you to a few of them. If you’re new to Missouri State, I would highly recommend taking some time to take this 30-minute tour!  

You will definitely want to attend Playfair and Rally in the Valley on Friday. This is a pep rally that takes place in Plaster Stadium. The incoming class photo is taken at this event, giving you a chance to participate in history as a new Bear. This event, and many others, is a fun way to meet other students and get involved! This year, there will be live music, free food, yard games, and more.  

One of the biggest events of Welcome Weekend and the entire school year is on Saturday night. Many current MSU students return to campus for this party that we call Bear Bash. This is both an annual event and a tradition on campus, and each year offers something different! If you are going to attend any of the Welcome Weekend events, I recommend Bear Bash as certainly the one that you don’t want to miss. This year, it takes place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., and features a hypnotist, mechanical bull, live music, and much more. Be sure to take some time during your first Saturday night on campus to experience the fun! 

The last day of Welcome Weekend is, of course, the Sunday before classes start. The most notable event that takes place on Sunday, also an annual and traditional event, is New Student Convocation. This is a welcome ceremony for new students, where you will hear from our university president, Clif Smart. This ceremony is also the start of a full-circle moment, as it takes place in the Great Southern Bank Arena, where you will graduate when you complete your degree. Following New Student Convocation, there is a Student Organization Festival, where representatives from some of our campus organizations will be present to help you find the right organization for you. It is so important to be involved on campus and find joy in other things besides academics. Taking the time to attend both of these events might just change the course of your college experience!  

Takeaways 

While this is just an introduction to some of the many events that take place during Welcome Weekend, I hope that you feel more knowledgeable about what is in store for you when you come to campus. Between move-in, Welcome Weekend, and the first week of classes, there is so much information to take in all at once, but moving to college really is such an exciting time. If you are still feeling overwhelmed when you come to campus (and don’t worry—most people do), there are so many resources available to you to help you adjust to college life. One of these resources is, of course, our CAST Office, where we have friendly Peer Mentors and Success Coaches that are excited to help students succeed. Either way, I hope that you experience an amazing Welcome Weekend, and that you make time to enjoy yourself on campus before classes start!  

~Hallie  

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

 

Advice for Move-In Day (Summer 2023)

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Hello again, Bears! It is so hard for me to believe, but the fall semester is rapidly approaching! That means that move-in day is also approaching quickly for incoming Bears. This week, I wanted to share some of my tips for the highly anticipated move-in day for any new Bears that are moving to campus this fall. If you are moving to campus soon, I hope that this post makes you even more excited for what’s to come! Here are some pieces of advice about move-in day.  

Talk to Your Roommate 

Before you move into your residence hall room, it is important that you consider talking to your roommate so that you can avoid bringing duplicate items. It’s also nice to know when your roommate is planning to move in. Getting to know your roommate before moving in can help you prepare for your living situation, or even help you find a friend before you get to campus. Consider trying to get to know your roommate before your move-in date, as it can help ease the move-in process.  

Check Your Email! 

The time between your SOAR session and your move-in date can sometimes feel like it’s dragging along, but this is the time that almost all information regarding move-in and the process of moving into the residence halls is sent to you through your MSU campus email. To stay on top of move-in information, be sure that you are checking your campus email at least once a day. Residence Life will contact you regarding your move-in date, housing assignments, and the process for moving in. Knowing what to expect before your move-in date will make the process on the day of so much easier. 

Label All of Your Boxes or Items Beforehand 

When you move into the residence halls, you will be prompted to drop off all of your belongings outside the front of the residence hall where Bear Crew, our move-in volunteers, will help take your things to your room. It is important that, before your move-in date, you label all your boxes and items with your name, residence hall, and room number so that your belongings are delivered to the right place.  

Have Fun! 

The moments right after you are dropped off at college can be awkward and emotional. It is so important that you make an effort to enjoy yourself while you are first adjusting to your new college environment. After you move in and unpack your things, find something that you can do on campus to both familiarize yourself with MSU but also meet other students in the same situation as you! Consider attending a Welcome Weekend event (which I will be discussing in an upcoming post), taking a walk around campus, or eating your first meal in the dining hall with your roommate. The weekend before classes start is also not a bad time to make sure you know what buildings your classes are in, so you aren’t as overwhelmed on the first day. Occupying yourself during this time will make your experience so much better, and there are so many fun events and things going on that you don’t want to miss! 

Takeaways 

I hope that these tips help you feel even more excited about move-in day. Moving to college really is such an exciting time, but it’s also normal to feel a little overwhelmed. If you are one of many students that feel that way, I want to remind you that there are endless resources available on campus to help you adjust to college life, including but not limited to our CAST office. I hope that your move-in day is improved by these tips, and that you enjoy the beginning of your life on campus!  

~Hallie  

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

What Should You Bring to Campus? Dos and Don’ts for the MSU Residence Halls (Summer 2023)

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Hello again, Bears! The summer semester is already over here on campus, which means that it is an exciting time for incoming freshmen Bears! If you are coming to campus this fall, chances are that you are packing or getting ready to pack up your things and move into the residence halls. You may also be feeling a little overwhelmed about what to bring to campus. If that is you, then you have come to the right place! In today’s blog post, I’m going to give you a few of my recommendations for things that you should or shouldn’t bring to campus.  

Bring… 

  • A small TV with Roku/Chromecast stick 

Did you know that you get a free HBO Max subscription as a Missouri State student? A TV is a great thing to have in your residence hall room. The MSU residence halls also have a separate WiFi network for devices like TVs and game consoles, so your streaming experience will be good. If you have a roommate, make sure you talk to them so you don’t both bring a TV. The residence hall rooms are pretty spacious, but you won’t need more than one TV! 

  • A plastic shower caddy 

Some students may tell you to bring a mesh shower caddy, but I am personally of the opinion that the plastic ones are the best. While they might be heavier and hold less than their mesh counterparts, the plastic caddies are much easier to clean and do not share the same risk of mildew. Sometimes, the showers in your residence hall won’t have a place for you to hang your caddy, so you want to have one that you can put on the floor.  

  • Additional storage 

 When you move out of your residence hall at the end of the year, chances are that you will have accumulated more than what you came to the residence hall with. You don’t want to be excessive, but bringing along extra storage will make the process of moving out easier. It also provides you with extra space to store things that you don’t use frequently, such as seasonal clothes. Consider bringing along a few storage bins or maybe an ottoman that doubles as a seat and extra storage.  

Don’t bring…  

  • A printer

Bringing a printer to campus isn’t really necessary, as there are many ways that you can print all over campus. It’s best not to take up space in your room with things that you don’t need. Each residence hall has a computer lab where students can print, and printing in the library is very accessible as well.  You can print up to 50 pages per semester in the residence hall computer labs, and you receive $60 of printing dollars for library printing every school year. This tends to be more than enough for most students, including me, and I am always printing out all sorts of English and Philosophy papers! 

  • Excessive additional furniture   

You may feel tempted to bring a futon or other types of furniture for your residence hall room to make things more comfortable or personal, but larger pieces of furniture take up a lot of unnecessary space. There are many other less space-consuming ways that you can make your room your own! Many students like to bring pictures, posters, lights, and other smaller things to decorate their space.  

  • Cooking appliances 

The Missouri State University residence halls don’t allow students to bring certain cooking appliances, like air fryers, toasters, or crockpots. There are some kitchen items that you can bring, like coffee makers, but be sure that you are familiar with what appliances you can and cannot bring. MSU also doesn’t allow students to bring microwaves or fridges into the residence hall rooms, but that’s because they are provided for you with the cost of the room!  

Takeaways 

These are just a few examples of things that I brought (or didn’t bring) to the residence halls when I was a freshman. While moving to college is a very exciting time, it is important to know what you should or should not bring to campus. You can see a detailed list of suggested items to bring and definite items to not bring, plus lots more useful information in the Guide to Move In provided by Residence Life, Housing, and Dining Services.  

If you are moving to campus soon, I wish you the absolute best of luck on your journey! Remember that, when you get here, there are some great resources on campus, including our CAST office, that can help you adjust to campus life. See you soon, and welcome to Missouri State! 

~Hallie 

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