Hello everyone, my name is Hanes Koshy, and I am a Peer Mentor in the Center for Academic Success and Transition office. I’m here with the fourth post to continue our series on introducing Success Coaches.  

So, let’s meet some of our extraordinary Success Coaches ready to guide you through your academic journey! 

Shahriyar Khan

First up, we have Shahriyar, a dedicated Project Management student at MSU. He chose MSU for its perfect blend of academic excellence and vibrant campus life.

Shahriyar’s top tip for first-generation college students is simple yet powerful: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.” When asked what the strangest item in his backpack was, he replied “cricket ball,” adding a unique touch to his essentials. Why should you seek guidance from Success Coaches like Shahriyar? Because he believes it “helps you unlock your full potential.” If Shahriyar were a brand his slogan would be “Dare to be rare,” encouraging us to embrace our unique selves.

Lucy Vo

Next, we have Lucy Vo, another Project Management enthusiast whose path to MSU was guided by destiny.

 Her advice to first-generation college students was “Give yourself some time to adjust to the new environment, it will get better over time. All the effort you are putting in right now will be worth it!” The strangest thing in her backpack was her gym shorts because she knew she wouldn’t be using them after work. Why should you connect with Lucy or Success Coaches like her? Her reply was “If I were a freshman, I would want to hear all the tips and tricks to get through this journey.” Now if you are wondering what her personal brand slogan would be it would be “Be bold or regret when you’re old.”

Joseph Dill

Lastly, we have Joseph Dill, pursuing a Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. He was drawn to MSU by the common ground he found with the Department Head’s interests and career path.

Joseph’s tip to first-generation college students is straightforward: “Don’t hesitate to ask for help.” Among the strangest things in his backpack was his daughter’s X-shaped toy. When asked why people should meet with Success Coaches, Joseph replied, “We’re in a unique position to connect with them on a personal level.” His personal brand slogan? “Keep Going!”

Fellow Bears let’s dare to be rare and keep going because if we aren’t bold, we’ll regret it when we are old.

~Hanes

(Bio: My name is Hanes Koshy, a junior majoring in Psychology and Religious Studies, Fun Fact: I am trilingual)