A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Why I Chose Missouri State University (Fall 2023, Week 4)

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Introduction

I felt that it was only right that I reintroduce myself and how I ended up at MSU to all of our readers as it’s been a while since I posted last. My name is Aubrey Hardy and I am a junior here at MSU. I am a special needs education major and I serve as the treasurer for Alpha Sigma Alpha. I also work in the Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) Office as a peer mentor. Some values of mine include leading, growing, and mentoring so I also got involved with peer leading in GEP 101 and I’ve found a lot of enjoyment in that service opportunity. I usually have a full schedule with everything I involve myself in but I am so grateful for all that I get to do. 

First Impression 

I toured three different colleges during my senior year of high school and honestly wasn’t sure where I could see myself. I am from the Joplin area and knew I didn’t want to go too far from home but other than distance I didn’t know what else should go into my decision for picking a university. Missouri State was the first college I visited and while I had a good experience I didn’t have anything to compare it to yet. After my other two college visits, I knew Missouri State was where I was supposed to be. When I walked onto the campus at each college I paid attention to how welcomed I felt and the energy of the student body. Maybe it was the time of day or year that I visited each of the colleges, but Missouri State had the most lively and happy-looking student body. The way I describe it is that something was different about Missouri State and I already felt a part of something just being guided on the campus. 

Present Day

As I mentioned in my introduction, I am a junior here at Missouri State. I can confidently say that Missouri State University was the right choice for me. I am only an hour away from home, making home visits easy and enjoyable. I get to interact, work alongside, and meet the student body each day on campus when headed to work or class or for a social event and everyone is even more welcoming and lively than they were on the day I toured. I also stated earlier my top three values, all of which I’ve gotten to explore since coming to Missouri State. I’ve led in the classroom, off-campus organizations, on-campus clubs, and my sorority. I have grown in so many ways; I am proud to say that I am not the same person I was three years ago. And I’ve gotten several opportunities to be a mentor including in the Center for Academic Success and Transition office. I’m sure I would have found a way to implement these values regardless of the university I chose but I am thankful Missouri State is where I get to call home. 

Takeaway

Whether you are reading this as an incoming student interested in Missouri State, or a graduating senior I hope you were able to relate to my experience in some way. Picking a college can be hard but it always works out the way it is supposed to. After picking a college many more decisions follow but don’t allow yourself to do it alone. Utilize your resources like a success coach to help narrow down choices or find what is best for you. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. 

~Aubrey

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

Advice for Move Out Day (Spring 2023, Week 14)

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Advice for Move-Out Day

Hello, Missouri State! It is week 14 and summer is right around the corner which for most students means move-out day is on the calendar. After moving out of the dorms last year I have some tips I’d like to recommend to others to ensure the process isn’t added-on stress during finals week.

Start Early

My first piece of advice is to start the move-out process sooner rather than later. If you are visiting home or you’ll have company from home visiting you before the end of the semester, make a pile of things that can be sent home so that you have less to pack. I find that taking home winter clothes or clothes you never wore and don’t see yourself wearing the remainder of the semester are the best things to pack first because it frees space in your room and you often won’t regret sending them home early. I personally like to wait until the last week to take home my decor because it’s what makes the room “mine” and when I take it down before I need to the room isn’t as comfortable to live in. But if seeing empty walls and desks doesn’t bother you, I advise taking these items home next. If you start early packing and moving the things you don’t need, the final move-out looks a lot less intimidating and creates an easier finals week. 

Keep, Donate, Trash

If you don’t have the option of starting early, one thing you can still do that will help ease the final week is to go through your space and create keep, donate, and trash piles. I like to start at my desk because it often holds the most items that can be thrown out or passed down. If you find that you have unopened school supplies or supplies in good condition, consider asking others around you if they could benefit from them. In the dorms, they will have bins in the lobby for any bed sheets, toiletry, and cleaning products students are able to donate. Any assignments or syllabi from the school year that you have collected can often be recycled. This method will also show you what you are keeping so that you can plan accordingly. For example, if you have accumulated several textbooks you plan to keep that you didn’t have when you moved in, it’s good to know this ahead of time before you start to pack.

Goodbyes

Once you’ve completed your packing and cleaning of the space, it’s time to say goodbye to your college community. I found this to be the hardest part of the move-out process because I had done life with these people all school year and wouldn’t see many of them again until the start of the next semester. One way I believe makes the process easier is making plans to connect over the summer. Several of my friends and I made sure to call each other during the break or see each other if possible. This helped when hugging goodbye because I knew that we had an agreement to keep in contact. Something I also reflected on was the beauty in hard goodbyes. 

 

Missouri State is here to support its students and moving out is not designed to create added on stress. If you feel that you need help or find yourself overwhelmed, a great resource to utilize is your Resident Assistant (RA). It is their job to offer you assistance and resources you may need during this time. I hope that your year was all that you hoped it to be and that this post helped you gear up for the break ahead of us.

 

“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” – Rachel Wolchin 

~Aubrey

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

Fountain Day to the Rescue (Spring 2023, Week 11)

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Fountain Day to the Rescue

Hello, Missouri State! Spring is quickly approaching and Fountain Day is in our future. Coming into Missouri State I had heard upperclassmen talk about their favorite day as the day the fountain was turned back on in the spring. At the time I didn’t understand the significance of it and thought it was silly to look forward to. Having participated in one myself, I can say it is the best day on campus and as soon as I have the date, I will create a countdown.

 

What is Fountain Day?

Fountain Day takes place in the spring and it’s a place for all students, staff, faculty, and community to gather in celebration of the fountain turning back on. The Traditions Council hosts the event and ensures that there are plenty of activities to partake in. Last year free t-shirts, free food, vials of fountain water, and buttons were given out. The day is easiest to celebrate when you bring your friends, take photos, and countdown with everyone for the fountain to spring back to life!

A summer scene of the Missouri State John Q Hammons Fountain with a rainbow.

What is the big deal?

Even after an explanation you still might be questioning why everyone saves the date on the calendar or comes back to MSU as an alum for the event. After conversations with a wide variety of people on why they love the day I observed a consistent response. Responses included: “it cured my seasonal depression,” “it put a smile on my face,” “it gave me something to look forward to,” or “it symbolizes hope.” The fountain truly does have a touch of magic because I can agree with each one of these claims. Winter can be a hard season for anyone but especially college students who are homesick, have a heavy workload, operate better with sunlight, or who just miss the simplicity of summer. The fountain is turned on after the last frost date so it is pretty set that there will be no more cold days in the near future which always brings hope. 

 

How do I handle seasonal depression at school?

Seasonal depression is something I didn’t struggle with until coming to college. It wasn’t until the first day I could wear shorts that I noticed that I may need to be diagnosed. The weather made a whole difference in my day; I was smiling all day long and my problems the day before no longer seemed to have a weight on my shoulders. A few days later it was back to bitter cold and coat weather and my mood plummeted. The weather continued to fluctuate and I noticed this pattern until Fountain Day came and I was the happiest I had been. If you also find yourself affected by the winter weather, I recommend putting Fountain Day on your list of must-attend campus events. I’m thankful for Fountain Day and all it has provided to the body of Missouri State.

Here are some other tips for any students who might, like me, be anxiously waiting for the cold, gray days of winter to pass.:

  • My first tip is to go to a professional, especially if you’re feeling depressed or anxious. Utilizing Magers Health and Wellness and making an appointment in the Counseling Center to talk about your concerns can get you the personalized help you need.
  • Something I purchased that has helped me was a sunset lamp. The lamp is said to have a positive impact on serotonin and melatonin. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression.
  • Socializing is one of the biggest tools I used to get myself out of the “funks” I was in. As I had mentioned earlier, the best way to do fountain day is with friends but so is everything else. Finding something fun to do on campus with a friend is always an added bonus.
  • Planning time to go on a walk or visiting the Foster Rec Center to get your body moving is also a method worth trying.
  • Meet with a Success Coach or a Peer Mentor in the Center for Academic Success and Transitions office.

Being affected by the season or the weather is real and can take a toll on someone especially those in college who may be already struggling. I suggest finding what works best for you and your needs according to the ideas I listed or discover your own solutions. However, be sure to save the date for the 2023 Missouri State Fountain Day because it’s going to be something you won’t want to miss. 

 

 “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light” – Aristotle

~Aubrey

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

How to Guide to Campus Gadgets (Spring 2023, Week 7)

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How to Guide to Campus Gadgets

Hello, Missouri State! Recently as I walked on campus from work to class I passed by several Starship Technologies delivery robots. While they have been on our campus since September, this was the first day I noticed them. What caught my attention is that we have this resource, yet I have no idea how to use it. I asked several classmates and not only did they not know how to use the robots but they also made the comment that they were unsure how to use the Bird scooters. I then made it my mission to figure out both of the gadgets.

Starship Technologies 

The Starship robots deliver from all of our campus offerings of Einstein Bros. Bagels, Panda Express, Subway, and the Market Café 1905 (will be added soon). To order yourself a food or drink of your choice all you need to do is download the Starship Food Delivery app (iOS and Android). The service does work with the student meal plan dining dollars or you can pay through a personal account. Once you have the app downloaded you’ll be asked to “drop a pin” where you want the delivery to be sent. The app provides a map tracking how close your delivery is to making its way to you. Once your delivery arrives you’ll receive a notification through the app. Once you greet the robot you’ll be prompted to unlock and grab your delivery. An alternative use for the resource is the PSU pick-up. If you are headed to the PSU and want to skip the lines you can order on the app and pick up your order at the marked location.

As I learned more about the robots my curiosity grew and I found that they have technology that allows them to navigate obstacles, climb curbs, travel night and day, and they can even deliver in the rain and snow. This addition to our campus is a fun way to stay central to your location without skipping a meal. 

Bird Scooters

Like the robots mentioned above, you can access the scooters through an app. The app is called “Bird” and allows you to use scooters on and near campus. What I found to be the most helpful information when looking into this technology was the importance of not riding on sidewalks but using the bike lane when possible. Helmets and one rider per scooter are also expected regulations. When you finish using your scooter the process is pretty simple: leave the scooter at your stopping point (avoid blocking sidewalks, doorways, driveways, and all other right of ways) and take a picture. The Bird scooters do have a payment fee and the price increases the longer you ride. 

After understanding how these two additions to our campus work, I’m excited to try them. The two of these gadgets alone have made a fun atmosphere on our campus and I get excited now when I see both being used by students and staff.

“Technology is best when it brings people together.” – Matt Mullenweg

~Aubrey

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

Getting Crafty Eating Outside of the Dorm (Spring 2023 Week 4)

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Getting Crafty Eating Outside of the Dorm

Why do students want to explore options outside the dining hall?

Maybe you miss your family’s traditional comfort foods, maybe you’ve seen a shift in your gut health since at the start of the school year, or maybe you just really want to add to your list of recipes to try. Whatever the case might be, there are some great options to explore outside the dining halls.

Tips/ideas for getting crafty with what you have

Luckily Missouri State doesn’t leave us stranded, and we do have the student union that gives a handful of options for some of our favorite fast food chains. The Plaster Student Union offers a quick and convenient option for those of us that are on the go or those who are craving some fries and frozen custard. All dorms are also equipped with a community kitchen if you wish to try out some cooking of your own. One way to get crafty if you crave adventure is to utilize the gadgets the dining halls provide. Some of my favorites are the panini press machine, toaster, microwave, and the mini pancake maker. On Fridays when my friend and I didn’t have a class immediately following our trip to the dining hall, we would explore our abilities at the panini machine, and we began to call ourselves experts in the field. The small convenience stores on campus (located in the PSU, Hammons House, and Bear Park South) are all great resources if you are looking for a quick frozen meal to pop in the microwave for a night in. Missouri State is continuing to add services to our campus to provide alternative options, and I highly encourage everyone to try them out.

The benefit of friends

One way I have found to get the taste of homemade food I had long missed was by making friends with peers older than me. Through organization involvement, I have gained some amazing friends who have the resources to cook in the comfort of their homes. What I like to do is split the cost, or help clean while conversing with these friends. It is a great way to spend time together, and eat a good meal, and I always walk away having learned something new. Another option is to find a friend you can meal prep with. I personally haven’t done this, but I know others who enjoy cooking together and splitting the proportions to serve each other throughout the week. Next time you make plans with a friend who has a kitchen, maybe ask if they would like to cook together as an activity!

Couponing

The very last tip I have for getting crafty outside the walls of the dorm is couponing. Grocery shopping can be daunting as a college student especially when you are budgeting so going in with a few coupons helps guide you. I would pick out the free newspaper in the lobby of my dorm and cut out any coupons that appealed to me and my roommates, and we would use them throughout the week to add a change in routine while not spending too much to do so. Using this technique got me out of the dorm gave me experience shopping for food as a single person and not for a whole family, and gave me the responsibility I was longing for.

Conclusion

I would be lying if I said I don’t miss the dining hall at times. It truly is a convenience to walk down to the dining hall and have a meal ready especially now that I am in charge of feeding myself throughout the week. However, I was a freshman too, and I know that sometimes eating in the dining hall is the last thing you want to do and so I hope I’ve sparked some creativity through this post.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf

~Aubrey

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