A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Archives for October 2024

Upholding Tradition (Fall 2024, Week 11)

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Welcome back, Missouri State Bears! This blog is in collaboration with the Traditions Council (TC), a student-led organization that manages athletic and university life events. I had the opportunity to meet with Zach Class, the President of TC, and I learned how important the organization is on our campus. According to the TC website, “Traditions Council’s goal is to promote and preserve the tradition of Missouri State University that supports student engagement in athletics and university life, enhancing the BEAR experience.” Tradition at a university is essential for many reasons so I wanted to connect with the President of TC to see why he thought students should get involved in maintaining traditions. 

 

How do Traditions Make an Impact on College Students?

Zach shared that he feels without tradition students have a harder time attaching themselves to their universities and taking pride. Traditions instill a great sense of community and gives students something to look forward to. When alumni share how they participated in the same tradition during their college years, it connects the student body to the university. Because the Traditions Council believes in the importance of their mission, they’ve created an app that allows students to earn rewards for completion of participation in differing traditions. Downloading the app Traditions Bearer allows students to log the events they attend and earn “achievements”. On the app, students can also find a list of events TC is hosting. 

 

What Does Creating a New Tradition Look Like?

If a student wishes to propose a new tradition, they must present the idea to the Traditions Council Executive board. TC has funding to implement new traditions such as the Homecoming King and Queen’s new ideas and students can access the same funds if their tradition is adopted. Look first at the long list of traditions that TC offers and engage with the app to see what ideas may be sparked and what traditions already exist. Participating in these new activities will allow you to meet new students and grow a love for our university.  

 

How can Students get Involved with the Traditions Council?

Zach shared that there will be information sessions held on January 15th and encouraged students to keep an eye out for more information and attend to hear more about the commitment. Applications can be found in Bearlink alongside a list of upcoming events for the organization. Traditions Council is made up of seven position titles but there are also General Assembly members who can attend meetings to have their voice heard and serve alongside the council members to put on great events. Traditions Council can be found on social media platforms and their events are continually being updated on Bearlink for students to access. 

 

Takeaways

Allow yourself to dive deep into the campus experience and make memories that will make you proud to be a Missouri State student and future alumni. Partaking in traditions with the community and getting plugged in is a great way to grow your engagement on campus which will flow into academic success. Meet with a Success Coach or a Peer Mentor to discover other avenues for getting plugged into the university and creating a sense of belonging. 

 

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, and I am a senior studying special needs education. Fun fact: My favorite MSU tradition is Fountain Day!)

Making Your Campus Feel Like Home  (Fall 2024, Week 10)

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Welcome back, Missouri State Bears! As a senior at Missouri State University, I feel like I know the campus quite well. This took me time as I had classes, meetings, or events in new buildings each year. The sooner you familiarize yourself with your environment, the quicker you become comfortable. When you are comfortable, studying becomes more natural, and the desire to stay connected on campus increases. I was inspired to write this post after celebrating 100 years of the Hill Hall academic building. Missouri State University is a beautiful campus – it’s time to explore!

 

Introducing Yourself to New Spaces

I challenge you to take a walk on campus and enter any building that you haven’t gotten the chance to visit. Without disrupting classes, locate the offices and resources found on each level of the building. You may discover something new that you wouldn’t have if you hadn’t adventured. It is not uncommon that you’ll find front desk staff in various buildings who may be able to inform you about what all their space has to offer. I took on this challenge myself and discovered the plant sale that takes place in the spring in Karls Hall and the study locations offered in Ellis. After completing my walk, I felt like I had a new understanding of what the university had to offer and I was excited to share what I learned with others.

 

Favorite Hidden Spaces of CAST Staff

I asked a few of the Success Coaches/TA’s in the office to list the spaces on campus that they’ve discovered and enjoyed for studying:

  • Sally – Basement of the library in the quiet zone 
  • Brooklyn – Balcony of Glass Hall with the overview of the soccer field 
  • Kuper – Second floor of the library behind the bookshelves 
  • Shahriyar – Behind the Plaster Student Union especially in the spring
  • Claire – Second floor of the library 

 

Why a Campus Feeling Like Home is Special 

As a student you spend a lot of your time on the campus utilizing resources offered and attending events, some students spend more time on campus than they do in their bedroom. To increase your academic success and enjoy your time at the university a key factor is feeling comfortable in the environment you spend so much time in. When you feel as if you know and love your campus your feelings will be contagious for those around you who may be looking for the same feeling. This campus is yours to explore and call home.

 

Takeaways

We are entering week 10 of the academic semester and you may be starting to feel homesick or the excitement of a new year may be wearing off or you just want to learn more about your campus. Whatever the reason, I think all students should introduce themselves to their campus the same way the campus did to the students. If you find that after this exercise you’re still longing to feel connected or to find ways to increase your academic drive or social life then stop by the Center for Academic Success and Transition office to meet with a Success Coach or a Peer Mentor. Our office staff would be happy to meet with you to identify possible opportunities. 

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, and I am a senior studying special needs education. Fun fact: I’ve read over 15 books this year!)

Preparing for Advising Appointments (Fall 2024, Week 9)

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Welcome back, Missouri State Bears! We are officially halfway through the fall academic semester and it’s already time to start thinking about the spring. It is also common that your instructors will be publishing mid-term grades and new opportunities will be coming up. Every student at Missouri State is paired with an academic advisor who meets with them to discuss changes in degree paths or other challenges/questions that may arise. When planning an advisor meeting for the next semester there is no need to stress – this blog is for you!

Create a Talking Points List

Every student at Missouri State is assigned an academic advisor, which means the advisors have a lot of students to meet with. Once you have a date on the calendar for the meeting go through and identify any questions you may have or advice you are seeking. Creating the list will keep you on track and lead to full productivity in the meeting so that you leave feeling confident. Examples of questions that you may ask an advisor:

  • What plan should I follow to graduate by my desired date?
  • What academic resources are available to support me in my courses?
  • What are the requirements of my major? Are there any GPA expectations?
  • What courses could benefit me in my major and my minor? 
  • What courses would you recommend to enhance my resume?
  • What is the drop/add date for courses this semester?

These are just a few questions that could be good to ask an advisor but you should feel comfortable asking your advisor anything related to campus academics. 

Review All of Your Documents Beforehand 

Oftentimes many of the questions students have can be answered by reviewing course descriptions, degree audits, or past advising notes. You can access these through your “My Missouri State” page and find the “Degree Audit” card or the “My Student Records” card. When you locate these documents you can do a deep dive to explore what possible options you have or eliminate some questions prior to your meeting to maximize your time together. 

If you want further guidance on accessing these documents or preparing questions for your advisor, visit the Center for Academic Success and Transition office to meet with a Peer Mentor or a Success Coach. You can request to meet or stop by during drop-in hours. (Drop-in hours change every semester; see the Student Academic Assistance page for this semester’s hours.)

Bring Supplies to Take Notes

When you meet with your advisor they will share with you new information, and updates to your program, and answer the questions you came in with. Your advisor can track the discussion in shared advisor notes on your student portal but it’s never a bad idea to bring your own form of note-taking. This will help with your engagement in the meeting and show that you’re ready to take action. If you need a refresher on the meeting or need access to links and contact information referring to the advisor note page is helpful.

Takeaways

Academic advisors are provided at Missouri State and they are ready to meet with students to encourage success in the classroom. To make the most of your time make a list of everything you need to discuss, review your personalized documents beforehand, and come to the meeting ready to listen. If you find that you need further guidance or support the Success Coaches or Peer Mentors of the Center for Academic Success and Transition office would be happy to meet. 

 

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, and I am a senior studying special needs education. Fun fact: I’ve read over 15 books this year!)

Preparation for Attending College Fairs (Fall 2024, Week 7)

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Welcome back, Missouri State Bears! The college career and organization fair season is here and the campus is buzzing with community partners joining together. When I attended my first career fair, I felt unprepared going in and overwhelmed when I walked out. These events should be a chance to learn what opportunities are available at Missouri State and beyond, not an event to stress students out. The biggest advice I can give is to prepare ahead of time; read below to learn how. 

Creating a Game Plan

One of the biggest reasons students leave a college fair stressed is because of the amount of tables they feel they have to visit. One way I have found to alleviate this stress is to research beforehand what companies/organizations will be in attendance at the event. I make a note of the tables I have a strong interest in learning more about and where they are located in the event space. Any others that I may have questions about or that spark excitement I will rank as a second priority to talk to if the time allows during my visit. 

Mastering an Introduction

These events are designed so that you can get to know representatives and so that they can get to know you. Many of the representatives in attendance are sent out to recruit and they are looking for good candidates. How you present yourself matters. Picking out an outfit that represents you well, makes you feel confident, and is appropriate for the occasion is a good first step in an introduction. At every table you visit you’ll have the opportunity to present an “elevator pitch” covering all the relevant information about yourself that showcases your skill set. Practicing this speech beforehand is recommended so that you can make revisions and memorize the short piece. Finally, after you’ve introduced yourself, you’ll want to allow them to introduce themselves and who they are representing. Having questions prepared to ask will show them that you have a strong interest in and care for what they have to share. 

Make a Lasting Impression

If you’ve followed all of this advice up until this point you are on a path to success. However, the people you meet are also feeling overwhelmed with how many students they met at the event and it’s important that you stand out among the rest. Bring a notebook with a pen to write down any new information you gather such as contact information, salaries, meeting dates, location, position descriptions, etc. Using a notebook instead of your phone shows the representatives that you are engaged and interested. Creating an updated resume that is specific to the event and leaving it with those who you talk to is a sure way to be remembered. Lastly, make sure to connect or follow up with the representatives after the event.  Visit the Missouri State Career Center resume-review drop-in hours for more guidance.

Takeaways

Preparing for these events ahead of time allows students to walk in with confidence and leave feeling assured that they got the most out of the experience. In your planning stage for a career/organization fair, consider visiting the Center for Academic Success and Transition office to meet with a Peer Mentor or a Success Coach. You can request to meet or stop by during drop-in hours. (Drop-in hours change every semester; see the Student Academic Assistance page for this semester’s hours.)

 

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, and I am a senior studying special needs education. Fun fact: I’ve read over 15 books this year!)