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.)