A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Planning for Success During Finals Week (Spring 2024, Week 16)

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Welcome back to another blog, Missouri State Bears! This week marks the last week of the spring semester with finals following. Each semester has looked different for me depending on my final schedule and I have found that to be true for other students as well. In this blog, I wanted to discuss what a finals week can look like and ideas to implement throughout the week. 

 

Start of the Week

At the start of the week, I would advise all students to create a schedule of finals, studying times, planned breaks, and other activities. Having a plan at the start of the week will hold you accountable and keep you on track to success. All professors will communicate when the class final or project is due and this will help create a timeline of what courses will need to be prioritized before others. Once you have an agenda of when finals will be tested and when projects and papers are due you can create a study schedule and implement brain breaks. I have found this to be an extremely helpful practice because you can ensure that you study in even increments of time and take fair amounts of breaks. 

 

Middle of the Week

At midweek you may have already taken a final or you may be on your last day of preparation before heading into one. If you have already taken one or many, pat yourself on the back and take a moment to reflect. Reflecting on all of your hard work and what you took away from the course will aid you in your next endeavors. If you are still preparing for finals that take place at the end of the week, remember to look back at your schedule of studying. Looking back at what you wrote at the start of the week will allow you to see if you have stayed on track with what you planned to achieve by this point. 

 

End of the Week

You made it! You completed a semester of hard work that you should be proud of and celebrate. I hope that everyone has great success during finals week, but I also know that finals week can be a hard week with final grades being determined. Regardless of your results at the end of the semester, if you feel that you would benefit from meeting with someone to discuss your options, joys, or concerns you should consider the Center for Academic Succes and Transition. Success Coaches and Peer Mentors are available to meet with students through request or drop-in hours. (Drop-in hours change every semester; see the Student Academic Assistance page for this semester’s hours.) Come by and see us in Meyer Library 116 if you need help or have a question!  

 

Takeaways 

If preparation is completed beforehand, finals week does not have to be a week to be afraid of. Before next week, write out all of your end-of-semester requirements and deadlines, plan study times, and plan brain breaks. Stay strong throughout the week utilizing the resources offered at Missouri State University including meeting with a Success Coach or Peer Mentor. Good luck!

 

~Aubrey

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

Advocating for Yourself (Spring 2024, Week 13)

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Welcome back to another blog, Missouri State Bears! We are in week thirteen of the semester and there are no signs of slowing down. At the end of a semester, there can be a lot on a college student’s plate. In moments of stress or feeling overwhelmed, it can be easy to lose sight of what to prioritize, what battles are worth fighting, and when to advocate for yourself. I’ve recently learned the importance of self-advocacy and want to share it with others to feel empowered. 

What is self-advocacy?

Self-advocacy is when you identify what you need and make fair decisions and requests based on those needs. You can compare this to giving a presentation without doing any prior research: the chances of you being taken seriously are less. Once you have an understanding of yourself and what it is that you need, you must communicate with others. Bringing in others will give you the support you may need in a time of vulnerability. Advocating for yourself can be daunting and uncomfortable so letting others in helps. 

When would I need to advocate for myself?

Not every situation will require you to advocate for yourself but there is a list of situations that commonly arise during your college years. When creating this list I wanted to brainstorm scenarios that are typical towards the end of the school year and I came up with the following:

  • Deciding which roommate will get to keep certain items.
  • Concerns regarding the final grade in a class.
  • A conversation with a parent about summer plans.

How to Advocate for Yourself

Every situation will look different but there are some important steps that you should consider before stepping into advocacy. Once you understand what is upsetting you and your needs, you can make a plan. Making a plan helps you have your points laid out and ensures that you’re being fair. Communication then comes into play, you want to be sure that your voice is heard and your message is delivered. For example, if you have a job offer in your college town instead of being home for the summer you should create a plan before talking to your parents. Write down what they may ask you so you have an answer prepared and know why you feel the way you do. 

Takeaways

Learning to advocate for yourself is an important asset to have the older you get as new situations arise. Self-advocacy isn’t mastered overnight, and it can be uncomfortable if you’re not used to it. The Center for Academic Success and Transition office offers peer mentors and success coaches who can help guide students. Every individual deserves to feel heard, and our team is here to listen. Consider visiting us during our drop-in hours (Spring 2024: Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) or requesting a meeting online. 

~Aubrey

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

Weighing the Pros and Cons (Spring 2024, Week 10)

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Welcome back Missouri State Bears! Spring Break is over and the end of the second semester is in sight. With that comes registration for classes, post-graduation plans, summer job applications, and more decisions that oftentimes can take a lot of thought. Recently I’ve been faced with a lot of decision-making opportunities and I’ve learned a few things along the way that I wanted to share with you all.

First, Gather all of the Information 

When a decision is first presented it can be easy to become overwhelmed with all the known and unknown possibilities. If you can compile all important information into one organized space it will help in the next steps. You’ll want to find the benefits, drawbacks, time, place, people, price, or anything else relevant. With my most recent decision, I found this to be helpful because it helped me better formulate a case for both sides when presenting it to my peers and family. That leads me to my next step…

Talk it Out

Find who knows you best and ask them to weigh in with their opinion. Assuming this decision will be big enough to affect other decisions, you’ll want trustworthy input before anything else. I have found that often when talking it out you discover what it is you truly want and the answer is there for you. If that isn’t the case your community is right there to pour wisdom or guidance out for your choosing. It could be that these influences share a point you had yet to think of which can be helpful or a setback.

If you need additional support or just a new outlook, the Center for Academic Success and Transition office has Peer Mentors and Success Coaches available for you to meet with through drop-in hours (Spring 2024: Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) or request online.  

Enter Your Evaluation Period

There is nothing wrong with taking time to think over a decision before making it. I would argue it is better and professional to take considerable time to weigh in on your choices. Once you have all of the information and have talked it out, do something that relaxes you and calms the mind. For me, this looks like going on walks or journaling in the colder months. Both are exercises that allow me to dump all my thoughts and isolate them into a session of evaluation. I encourage you to be flexible with this time as it could take a much shorter time than anticipated or longer. Once you feel that you’ve come to a decision, give yourself a pat on the back and lead confidently with the choice. 

Take Action

If anyone else is involved in the decision, let them know your choice and thank them for the time they allowed you to think about it. I also find it important to go back and thank any of the individuals who helped me decide with an update on what I decided.

Takeaway 

For many at the university level, we are entering a season of decision-making and it can be a stressful time but it doesn’t need to be. Gather all information given, bring in your community (or a peer mentor!), evaluate in solitude, and take action. Best of luck with all of the decisions you’ll soon be making!

~Aubrey

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

Surviving Midterms (Spring 2024, Week 7)

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Welcome back Missouri State Bears! We are already at week seven of the semester which means it is midterm season. When outlining my assignments for the week I realized I had several study guides to create and terms to study before the week ahead. Coming into college, I viewed midterms as a daunting task that I needed survival mode turned on. I have learned that with good study habits and preparation, midterms don’t have to be anything to fear but instead something to manage. 

Plan Ahead

The first tip I have for midterms is knowing enough time in advance when you will be tested. You can find most midterm dates in the syllabus of the class. I find it easiest to write all important assignment dates in my planner including midterms. You can pick up a free 2023-2024 planner in the CAST office if you need a fresh slate for writing important tasks out. Once you have the task written out you can better map out a schedule of when to start studying. 

Schedule Study Times

Setting aside designated time to study for each test will ensure that you complete the studying but it will also help avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed. I personally don’t study well in groups but for those who do, I advise planning at least two weeks in advance. Two weeks gives the group enough time to bring questions back to the classroom before taking the exam which is key. While you should have an understanding of the content being tested it is okay to ask questions for clarity.

Utilize Office Hours

One tip that I think many students tend to skip over until they hit survival mode is meeting with professors. Don’t wait until the week of or after the midterm to have a conversation with your professor. In the weeks leading up to the exam if you find yourself struggling or wanting further guidance, attend study hours. If fear arrives at the thought of meeting one-on-one with a professor, try practicing first with a friend or a peer mentor. A peer mentor is an undergraduate student who wants to meet and help students combat these fears and other issues that arise as college students.

Takeaways 

Midterms are designed to enhance your understanding, not to instill fear. So as midterms are just around the corner be sure to plan ahead, schedule study times, and utilize office hours.

~Aubrey

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

It’s Time to Apply to be a Peer Leader (Spring 2024, Week 4)

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Welcome

Welcome back Missouri State Bears! As the new month begins it is time to start thinking about the months ahead. Scheduling fall classes is just around the corner and what better idea than to search all your options? One option is to consider applying to serve as a Peer Leader. The application for fall 2024 peer leaders opens soon, learn more below. 

What is Peer Leading?

Peer leading provides students at Missouri State University with the opportunity to partner with a GEP 101 professor to lead and educate students on campus involvement, time management, critical thinking, campus resources, the public affairs mission, and more critical knowledge needed to succeed at the university. The exact role of a peer leader can be unique for each individual leader, but there are some general roles that all peer leaders fulfill. These roles include:

  • serving as a positive role model for students, 
  • aiding students in their questions, 
  • providing assistance to the course instructor, 
  • helping students become connected to the university, and 
  • gaining leadership experience. 

The time commitment for peer leaders includes attending the GEP 101 course twice a week, attending the IDS 310 leadership course once a week, and any additional preparation that is needed to appropriately fulfill the roles. This results in approximately only five hours per week to make an impact and enhance student success through leadership. Peer leaders gain other benefits as well such as receiving 16 hours of university service hours, earning one credit hour for the IDS 310 course at no cost, gaining desired skills, receiving peer-leading apparel, and more. Becoming a peer leader will allow students to grow in their own capabilities and impact the lives of first-year students at Missouri State University. 

 

“My Peer Leader in my GEP class helped me through one of my toughest semesters.” – 2022 GEP 101 student

Peer leaders on October 23, 2023. Jesse Scheve/Missouri State University

How Can You Apply to be a Peer Leader?

If you are interested in applying to become a peer leader, we encourage you to attend one of the two peer leader information sessions. These sessions will be on Thursday, February 8th, from 12:30-1:15 p.m. and Monday, February 12th, from 12:30-1:15 p.m. via Zoom. During the information sessions, although the information sessions are optional, they will give you the opportunity to learn about peer leading in more detail and ensure that you meet the needed requirements to apply. Next, fill out the application and ask two people to submit references for you. These application and reference forms can be found on the First Year Programs website the Peer Leadership section. After completing the application and the needed reference forms, Dr. Glaessgen will contact you via email to schedule an interview. 

 

Zoom Information Sessions

Thursday, February 8th, 2024: (zoom link will be available on the Peer Leader recruitment page on February 8th)

Monday, February 12th, 2024: (zoom link will be available on the Peer Leader recruitment page on February 12th)

 

The Impact of Being a Peer Leader.

When we reached out to previous peer leaders we learned that peer leaders make an impact but are also impacted greatly themselves.

 

“I feel that I have helped three generations of freshman students have a positive first experience in a college classroom which hopefully allows for them to become more involved and more successful during their time at MSU.” –Zoe

 

“Peer Leading has helped me learn what aspects of leadership I am good at and what aspects I still need to improve, and I think it has had a positive impact on me in this way.” – Daniel

 

“Peer Leading has helped me grow my leadership skills but also interact with others as well. I learned to adapt to new situations and to be flexible in my leadership abilities. I have altered my perspective on what it means to be a leader.” – Melyssa

 

“I felt like I positively impacted Missouri State through my role as a peer leader by speaking about the variety of resources offered here. Not many students take advantage of resources like the Bear Claw, Clubs, and others like the Bear Pantry. MSU offers these to help students challenge any problems they might have. By speaking about it, it helps more students understand the importance of accessing them.” – Grace

Takeaways

A list of requirements can be found in this post and on the Peer Leadership Recruitment website. Peer leading is a great opportunity for those who are looking to find new effective techniques, helpful resources, and problem-solving skills, as well as for those who want to make new friendships; have a positive support system, a networking opportunity, and develop leadership skills.

 

— Aubrey Hardy and Olyvia Buzzanga