A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Archives for October 2023

Welcome New Peer Mentors! (Fall 2023, Week 11)

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This semester we have welcomed two new peer mentors to our team in the Center for Academic Success and Transition office. Peer mentoring is a free and great resource available to all undergraduate students who need a listening ear. Peer mentors are peers on campus who have a desire to help problem-solve and answer questions their peers may have about MSU and college in general. With that being said, Haleigh and Daniel are looking forward to working with students at MSU. You can use the form to fill out a request to meet with a peer mentor if you wish to do so.

Haleigh

Haleigh is majoring in Communications Sciences and Disorders and minoring in Disability Studies. (A note from me: Our peer mentors vary in their academic studies so although it may be helpful to meet with someone who shares your same degree path it is also okay to meet with someone who doesn’t. Peer mentors are peers and we are able to understand and relate to mentees, regardless of their major.) Haleigh’s tip for first-generation college students is “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and guidance.”

 

Daniel

Daniel is a  Biology major with an emphasis in Microbiology/Biotechnology and a Chemistry minor with an emphasis in Pre-Health (all on the pre-med track). (A note from me: Something I find unique amongst our staff in the CAST office is our different strengths and areas of interest. For example, I am a special needs education major, and Daniel and I have different ways of thinking but we both share the same desire to help other peers.) Daniel’s tip for first-generation students is “to seek opportunities to network with others and build up a support system in college because that will help you get through college while knowing that you have help!”

 

Why You Should Meet with a Peer Mentor

Haleigh and Daniel both agree that every MSU student should consider meeting with a peer mentor. Haleigh said the program can “help you have a smooth transition to college and get a little extra support when you need it.” Daniel added, “We can help students identify their strengths and weaknesses, improve time management, and even just help students connect with others and utilize campus resources.”

If you would like to meet with a peer mentor, you can use our request form. Or stop by our Fall 2023 Peer Mentor Drop-In hours on Tuesdays 1-2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 2:30-4 p.m., in Meyer Library 116 (next to the Bear CLAW).

 

Fun Question for the Peer Mentors

Just for fun, I decided to ask Haleigh and Daniel what the strangest thing was in their backpack at the time. Haleigh had beef jerky and Daniel had a pair of safety glasses. Do you have anything strange in your backpack?

 

Takeaways

We’re excited to welcome Haleigh and Daniel to CAST and we look forward to students coming in to meet with a peer mentor. Peer mentors are a great resource when you need a listening ear or advice from a peer who has shared experiences.

~Aubrey

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

Upholding Tradition (Fall 2023, Week 9)

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Welcome back after fall break Missouri State students! It is Homecoming week, a tradition Missouri State University has had for over 100 years. This year’s Homecoming theme is “To Maroon and Back” and the Homecoming committee has worked hard to prepare the week’s festivities. The tradition of Homecoming brings the campus and community together all week long with the crowning at the Saturday football game concluding the celebration. 

 

Who can Participate in Homecoming?

Missouri State University is very inclusive when it comes to Homecoming as every student has the opportunity to participate throughout the week. If watching the Missouri State athletic teams is what interests you the most, a list of sports games is available on the alumni page of Missouri State University’s website. My favorite event to attend is the parade Saturday morning of Homecoming. Everyone is invited to the parade to watch king and queen candidates,  bands from surrounding high schools, and floats and parade entries make their way through campus.  

 

Why is Homecoming and Tradition Important?

Coming to college you most likely have the desire to feel seen and a part of something bigger than yourself. Tradition provides an opportunity to get involved and invested in your college campus. If you find that tradition is something that you value consider joining the Tradition Council. Beyond traditions, there are other ways to find where you belong on campus and the Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) is here to help. CAST’s Peer Mentors are happy to help work with MSU students to find campus organizations and other ways to get involved on campus.

 

Takeaways

Homecoming is a well-known and positive experience for many current and previous students at Missouri State University. It is a time to bring everyone together and find joy in tradition. I highly encourage everyone to attend all that they can during the week and discover something new about the Missouri State campus.

~Aubrey

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

The Little Things I Love About MSU: The Campus Squirrels (Fall 2023, Week 8)

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Welcome back to another blog post, Bears! This week, I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about something a little more light-hearted and humorous. Any Missouri State student or faculty member has seen them—when you leave a building or turn a corner, they are there, digging in the trash, hopping through grass, or climbing trees. I’m talking about the campus squirrels, of course! I love the squirrels on campus, so I thought I would provide you with a couple of personal stories from my encounters with them to give you a little brain break from your midterm studies. Here are two stories of mine from when I’ve run into a squirrel on campus.  

A Bad Day 

On a warm spring day last semester, I was walking back to my car parked in Bear Park South after getting out of a club meeting. I don’t remember much about that day, but I do remember being in a bad mood. I was tired, and the person sitting behind me in my club meeting had been kicking my chair, which happens to be one of my bigger pet peeves. I was ready to go home, and I was walking pretty fast. I was making my way under the trees behind Plaster Student Union when, all of a sudden, I heard something rummaging around in a nearby trashcan ahead of me. Before I could walk past it, a squirrel jumped out onto the sidewalk right in front of my feet and held a full-size burrito in its paws. Right in front of me, it opened its mouth and took a very large bite, but I don’t think that the squirrel liked it very much because it dropped the burrito on the ground and went right back into the trashcan. I thought the whole thing was pretty funny, and I also learned that squirrels probably don’t like burritos. The incident made me smile, and the rest of my walk back to my car was pleasant.  

An Unexpected Encounter 

A few weeks ago, I was once again walking back to my car in the parking garage. This time, though, it was much later in the evening, because I was coming back from a reading hosted by the English department. I remember being happy because they hosted a poet that I had been reading in my poetry class, and it was so cool to hear him read some of my favorite poems of his. I was walking directly under a tree in front of McDonald Arena when a huge bundle of leaves attached to a branch hit me on the top of my head, fell onto my left shoulder, and then onto the ground. It was big enough that I turned around and looked up into the tree, only to find a mischievous looking squirrel sitting at the end of the branch I was under where the bundle must have fallen, looking right at me. I still don’t exactly know what that squirrel’s intentions were at that moment, but I can’t help but think that it was at least somewhat responsible for the leaves falling on my head. Either way, I found the encounter funny, and I laughed about it to myself for the rest of my way back home. 

Takeaways 

After reading this post, you might be wondering why, of all things, I decided to write about squirrels. Well, as the title implies, the squirrel population on campus just happens to be one of the many little things about this campus that I love. I hope that my anecdotes, while silly, serve as a reminder to you to enjoy the little things in your life that make you happy. Sometimes, if you’re having a bad day like I was in my first story, a small thing like a squirrel eating a burrito can turn your whole day around, and it’s important to cherish those things. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed and you find that an encounter with a campus squirrel does not entirely lift your spirits, come and see us in the CAST office! We have amazing Success Coaches and Peer Mentors that want to help you succeed, and we are now offering drop-in hours on Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. I wish you luck on your midterms, and hope that you enjoy your Fall Break!  

~Hallie 

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

Exploring Your Values (Fall 2023, Week 7)

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Exploring Your values

Hello, Missouri State, It is week seven and we are near the halfway point of the semester. Regardless of what year you are in college, I’m sure you’ve done a lot of growing as an individual. Each semester brings new challenges, community, and experiences; reflection is essential. Explicitly reflecting on the exploration of your values as a college student is what I want to write about this week. 

What are Values and Why are They Important?

Values are individual to you and are in place to motivate or direct you. They are important because they help you navigate the small and big decisions that college and life itself can throw your way. It is also important to note that values inform your thoughts, words, and actions, and taking the time to explore the values or values you desire to have is insightful. You may find after your reflection that something is more important to you than you gave it credit. 

How to Explore Your Values

Setting aside time to write, walk, or meditate on all that you do or all that makes you unique is a good first step to take. I have found that sitting down with someone and having them just listen to me is a helpful tool. This allows me to talk out everything and hear from an outsider what I seem to be the most passionate about or consumed by. The person I choose to ask looks different each time but I usually seek out a mentor one way or another because they tend to offer the best advice and listening skills. The Center for Academic Success and Transition Office is a great resource to utilize when looking for a mentor. Peer Mentors and Success Coaches help you navigate college and the challenges that you are presented with. After meeting with someone I would recommend reflecting on your own, documenting what you discovered. 

Takeaway

College is a transitional time for anyone and a lot of growing is done from the time you walk on campus to when you put on your cap and gown. The decisions you make now will impact your life beyond college so it is important to understand what is important to you. Values shouldn’t be something you feel you have to explore on your own, utilize your community to help direct you. Your community can help you see what it is that is important to you and hold you to it.

~Aubrey

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