A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

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.)

Introducing Open Hours (Spring 2023 Week 3)

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We are open poster announcing details of open hours

Welcome back to MSU students! We are a few weeks in, and the energy is back on campus. Like any semester, there are some new changes on campus to guide students to success further – one of those changes being here in the CAST office! This semester, we are introducing Open Hours! This is something new our office is trying, and we want to make sure to advertise to anyone who is interested.

Our Open Hours serve the purpose of letting students drop in at their own convenience to meet with a Peer Mentor or Success Coach without previously scheduling or requesting an appointment. If you aren’t familiar with the difference between a Peer Mentor and a Success Coach, visit the Student Academic Assistance page on the CAST website.

Open Hour Details:

  • Success Coach:
    • Wednesdays from 12:00-2:00
    • Tuesdays from 12:30-3:00
    • Topics a Success Coach can help with: test preparation, time management, using a planner, and more!
  • Peer Mentor:
    • Mondays from 1:00-2:00
    • Wednesdays from 9:00-10:00
    • Topics a Peer Mentor can help with: using My Missouri State, steps to follow to register for classes or use Trial Schedule Builder, Missouri State resources, and more!

If you wish to try Open Hours, follow the steps below:

  1. Our office is located in Meyer Library room 116. When you walk through the door, you’ll be greeted at the front desk and you can let them know that you are visiting for Open Hours.
  2. You’ll then be paired with a Peer Mentor or Success Coach, who will meet with you either in the CAST office or in a nearby space in the library.
  3. Once your meeting is over, you can schedule a time to consistently meet with a Peer Mentor or Success Coach if you would like.

Reasons you may want to give Open Hours a try:

  1. You are more comfortable in a less formal setting and prefer to drop by at your convenience. While our Open Hours are limited, it does provide a less traditional setting for students.
  2. You aren’t sure if you want to commit to meeting with a Peer Mentor or a Success Coach yet. Utilizing our Open Hours is a great way to familiarize yourself with the CAST office’s resources without a previous or future appointment. 

This is something new the CAST office is trying, and we want your opinion! If you give Open Hours a try, please share your experience with us . We are super excited to be able to support students even more, and we hope that you’ll stop by to come to see us!

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” – Bobby Unser

~Aubrey

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

How to Ensure a Holiday Break is a Break (Fall 2022 Week 16)

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How to Ensure a Holiday Break is a Break

Hello Missouri State! It wasn’t long ago that we were on Thanksgiving break and soon we will be on winter break. I encourage you to finish these last weeks of the semester strong and to stay motivated in your coursework. As we prepare for another break I wanted to share my advice on how to ensure a holiday break is a break. 

Adjusting to a New Routine

Whether you go home, stay on campus, or do something in between you’ll have to adjust to a new routine for a month. My biggest piece of advice is to give yourself time to figure out what works best for you. It will take a few days before you remember how to live with your parents or what to do with all your newfound free time. You could also find that you have a lot that you need to get done over break and finding time for it all quickly becomes overwhelming. Whatever your break looks like, give yourself grace as you figure out what your new normal may look like.

Productivity or Laziness

A big mind game I play with myself when I go home on a break is if I want to be productive or lazy with my time off and I always leave frustrated that I didn’t do the other. I’ve concluded though that either one is okay in moderation. As college students, breaks should be used to rest and refuel but the extra time can be used to our benefit to get things done. If you spend your whole break on the couch watching movies you may find that coming back to a busy semester is a real challenge. If you spend your break working you’ll enter the new semester restless and potentially anxious. I think it’s wise to make a plan of all the things you hope to accomplish while on the break with implemented times to rest. If you find yourself bored or lacking productivity check back in with your list of to-dos and check one off. This also works vice versa, if you are working long hours remind yourself that you’ve earned a break and do something mindless. 

Preparation for the Upcoming Semester

I’ve talked frequently about the next semester after winter break because it’s the next milestone. I’m constantly thinking about the next thing and when on break all I can think about is the upcoming semester but it’s also important to reflect on the previous. Benefits to reflecting include knowing what worked and what didn’t, your favorite memories, showing gratitude for your new community, and a check-in with your goals. After you finish reflecting, it’s wise to apply it to your upcoming semester. For example, if you found that you did not study well in your dorm room, make an adjustment to find a new space. Maybe you’ve decided you want to get more involved on campus and so you find an organization that you’re interested in. A good way to be held accountable for these adjustments is meeting with a peer mentor when you return from break. Letting your peer mentor know what your goals are for the upcoming semester will allow them to share resources and support along the way. Everyone’s semester looks different but anyone could benefit from a time of reflection and adjustment.

Take a Break

This is a piece of advice for myself just as much as anyone else. As college students, there is an underlying pressure to make money or to stay busy but we all need a break. We’ve all worked hard from August to now and our reward is the time off, what you do with that time is your choice. From my experience moderation of productivity and laziness with reflection time is the best way to spend a break. I hope you were able to take something away from my experience and that you remember to truly rest however that may look.


“Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.” – Doe Zantamata 

~Aubrey

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