End of Semester Q & A

Hello, everyone! We hope you all have had a great semester and that it is ending smoothly. For our final blog of 2022, we decided it might be fun to do a little Q & A with the writers! As readers may know, Michael is graduating this semester so it will just be Alexandria and Georgia responding to some fun questions we’ve come up with.

What was the most interesting thing you learned this semester?

Georgia: My most memorable learning experience from this semester was in one of my communication courses. My favorite concept we studied was the idea of resistance and how rhetoric can function to oppose dominant ideologies.

Alexandria: The most interesting thing that I learned this semester was just how complex advertising can get and what all goes into that.

What would be your ideal superpower?

Georgia: Teleportation! I have always wanted to travel and see the world, and being able to teleport wherever I want, whenever I want would be amazing. Also, I would never be late to anything because there is no commute time to worry about!

Alexandria: (Invisibility) I would love to have the ability to just disappear at the drop of a hat whether to scare people or to get away for my own sanity.

Attending classes during the semester can get hard so what is something you never fail to do?

Georgia: I always try to make time for myself. I will spend some time alone doing something I enjoy or have fun with my friends to make sure I am maintaining my emotional and mental health. I also make sure to schedule and attend sessions with my counselor so that I can talk through things and process how I am feeling.

Alexandria: I never fail to talk to other people during the semester because it helps me to talk through my problems. If I’m having a hard time with something it just feels better for me to talk to someone whether to get advice or just to have a listening ear.

What’s the best gift you’ve received from somebody?

Georgia: One of my favorite gifts I’ve ever received was a necklace from my best friend. She and her mother went out looking for a birthday gift for me and stumbled upon a series of moon phase necklaces. Each one was specific to the phase of the moon on a specific date, so they found the one from the night I was born and got it for me. Mine happened to be a new moon, so the moon is blue instead of white and it even glows in the dark. It is very special to me because my friend knows how much I adore the moon.

Alexandria: The best gift that I’ve received from someone else was a dream catcher. A close friend of mine told her mother-in-law about me and she hand-made me a three-tier dream catcher. I hadn’t met my friend’s mother-in-law before, so it was surprising to get such a great gift from someone that has never met me.

What are you looking forward to most this fall semester?

Georgia: I am really excited to take new literature courses. I adore creative writing and am looking forward to better understanding the process of getting work published. I’m also just looking forward to enjoying my senior year.

Alexandria: I’m looking forward to having more of my major-focused classes for Business and meeting new people. After this semester, it’ll be my senior year also so I’m excited to graduate and get my degree.

 

Takeaways

I hope you all feel like you know us a little better! It has been a blast getting to write these blogs and share our stories and tips with all of you. Have a brilliant summer and take a well-deserved break!

~ Georgia

(Bio: My name is Georgia Grace Wright, a junior at MSU majoring in Communication Studies. I also have minors in both Creative Writing and Anthropology.)  

~ Alexandria

(Bio: I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a senior business major at Missouri State University.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips to Avoid Burnout

The spring semester is coming close to its end, and if you are anything like me, you are tired. Let’s face it, being a college student is exhausting work. The result will be so fulfilling, and we will all be smiling bright with our accomplishments, but we must get there first. That means that taking care of your health must be a priority. Burnout is a syndrome caused by poorly managing persistent stress, and many college students struggle with it. Because it is so common and difficult to manage, I would like to provide you with a list of tips that I’ve discovered and utilized to avoid burning out (or recover from it).

 

1.      Take care of your physical health

Sometimes it can be easy to get distracted and start neglecting your physical health when you are busy with your classes, work, friends, and just life itself. It is a lot, and we may forget to care for ourselves physically. It is imperative that we make conscious efforts and take time to make sure our bodies can function at their best. I know you’ve heard it before, but it is true. Drink plenty of water, move your body in some way every day, and eat good meals. Make these seemingly simple things into habits that you take real time for.

2.      Take care of your emotional, mental, and spiritual self

I have found that people often overlook the importance of their emotional, mental, and spiritual health. These things are so important to us as human beings, and what is healthy can look different for each and every one of us. This means take time to sit with yourself, reflect on your values and goals, and what makes you happy and fulfilled. If you have spiritual or religious practices, make time to do that. If not, simply make time to reflect or do something you enjoy. Some of us struggle with our mental wellness, and it may be beneficial to seek out professional help in those situations. Whatever you need to do or get done, make sure that you feel okay doing it. You must take care of yourself first before you can do anything else.

3.      Spend quality time with friends and loved ones

It is so important to take breaks from studying and working. This goes along with the previous tip in caring for your emotional health, but it is important enough to have its own category. Spending quality time with the people you love can make the difference in burning out and thriving. Confide in your friends and family, they want to be there for you.

4.      Remember why you started

We are all here for a similar reason; we want to further our education. That said, we all have our specific and personal reasons for wanting to do that. Remember why you did. Take time to set goals and reflect on past ones. Think about the things you have accomplished so far and what you want to do in the future. How can you make that happen? What are you doing right now to make it happen? It is important to note that the previous tips should always come first. You cannot give what you do not have, so once you’ve taken care of your health you can think about these things.

5.      Seek help

If it has gotten to the point that you are already on the downhill side of burning out, there are always people out there to help you, you only need to ask for it. In the Center for Academic Success and Transition, we offer Peer Mentors and Success Coaches if the problem involves academics or transitioning to college. We are here to support you and want to make sure you have access to the right resources. If the issue you are having pertains to your mental or emotional health, reach out to Missouri State’s Counseling Center. You get eight free counseling sessions every semester, already paid for. If it’s about being a multicultural student and everything that goes along with that, you can contact Multicultural Services. If you are struggling with anything else, reach out to someone. That person can be someone from the university, a friend, or a family member. This is always someone out there who wants to help you.

Takeaways

Burnout is a real problem for college students, and sometimes it can be unavoidable. These tips are useful in an effort to try to avoid it, or as ways to recover. All you can do is your best. Try your best to take care of yourself, have empathy for your own struggles, and be gentle with yourself. You deserve to be here and to meet your goals. Help is there if and when you need it, you only have to ask. Thank you for reading, I will leave you with this quote from Banksy,

“If you get tired, learn to rest—not to quit.”

(Bio: My name is Georgia Grace Wright, a junior at MSU majoring in Communication Studies. I also have minors in both Creative Writing and Anthropology.)  

 

 

The Best Places to Take Photos on Campus

I hope everyone is having a brilliant spring! I’ve been spending lots of time outside recently to watch the flowers start to bloom and the trees grow back their leaves. This has inspired me, so I plan to take some time to go around campus with friends to take spring pictures. It is so important to take time to relax and spend with your friends. Having a photoshoot around campus is a great way to get outside to enjoy nature, laugh with friends, and create memories to look back on once you graduate. So I thought I could share with you all the places we like to go for the perfect background!

 The Vine Wall

A well-known classic around the MSU campus, the wall between the Plaster Student Union and Wells House is a gorgeous spot to take photos all year round, but it really comes to life in the spring! You can choose to have the iconic “Missouri State University” section in the background or go for just the beautiful green vines. Either way, your photo will get an amazing picture.

Blooming Trees in Front of Temple Hall

A lesser-known favorite of mine, the small trees directly in front of the color-coded lecture halls of Temple Hall are a great place to take your spring photos. My friends and I have had the trees in the background, and we’ve even crawled into their space to take photos from within the tree. The white petals surrounded us from all sides and made for a whimsical photo session.

The Stairs of Siceluff Hall

Siceluff Hall is one of the most gorgeous buildings on campus, in my opinion. The front side with the huge staircase that faces Hill Hall is a wonderful spot to take some photos, especially sitting poses. I have always loved the look of pictures where I am sitting on stairs, and that staircase is one of the best on campus!

The Fountain

Of course, I simply cannot make a list of the best places to take photos on campus without mentioning the fountain. Everyone knows it, everyone loves it! Just in front of Meyer Library, our fountain is the iconic center piece of Missouri State’s campus, and everyone should get a photo with it if given the chance. Be on the look out for Fountain Day, the glorious day that they turn the fountain back on after its winter snooze! This year, it is scheduled for April 12th, and there will be some fun festivities around as well!

Behind the PSU

The area right behind Plaster Student Union is filled with large rocks, trees, and pretty flowers in the spring. It is not only a great place to relax outside, but also a wonderful spot for a photoshoot. I love taking photos sitting on the rocks!

Takeaways

I hope that you like my suggestions and might think about going out to take some beautiful spring photos with your friends! I know that when I leave here one day, I will look back on these pictures fondly and remember the good times I had here at MSU.

Thank you for reading! I will leave you with this quote from Dorothea Lange,

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”

(Bio: My name is Georgia Grace Wright, a junior at MSU majoring in Communication Studies. I also have minors in both Creative Writing and Anthropology.)  

Five Tips for First-Generation Students from a First-Generation Student  

Starting college as a first-year student can be intimidating, and when you are the first in your family to go, it can be even more so. Learning how to live and study at a university is a change for everyone, but first-generation students typically have less knowledge about how college works and what they can do to ensure that they succeed. Here is a non-exhaustive list of tips for my fellow first-generation students from someone who has been in your shoes: 

1. Support systems. I know you’ve probably heard people talk about having a support system when they are going through something difficult, but the thing is, support systems are incredibly important at any point in our lives. My first tip to enjoying college and doing your best is to establish connections with supportive people. That can mean your family back home, friends you’ve known for a while that may have come with you, and/or new friends you’ve made here at Missouri State!  
2. Networking. This goes right along with support systems. Building connections with your peers and instructors will make you feel more engaged in your learning and can help you in the future. This is especially true in your college/department. Learn your instructors’ names, ask them questions, and get to know them. They could be used as references later down the road.  
3. Get involved. Getting involved on campus is a brilliant way to make friends, get some socializing in, and feel more at home here at Missouri State. There is a whole variety of student organizations, clubs, and teams that you could join. There are also organizations that put on all kinds of FREE events just for students. Going to those is a great way to make new friends and get to know your campus community.  
4. Financial literacy. Financial literacy means learning how to manage your money; this is a monumentally important task when adjusting to college. Setting up a budget and planning out specific days to pay your bills ahead of time are great ways to help with this. Figure out how much money you have coming in, and then divvy up your expenses based on that. 
5. Financial aid. Do your research on financial aid! At MSU, we have loads of scholarships available for students to apply for. It is also very important to fill out your FAFSA each year by the priority deadline so that you can maximize your scholarship intake. I didn’t really know anything about financial aid when I came to college, so I had to do a lot of research. Now, I have the opportunity to receive incredible scholarships because I filled out the Missouri State Annual Foundation Scholarship application, which you should do as well. The deadline for that application is March 1st, so now is the time to get on it!  

Takeaways  

Transitioning to university life can be stressful, but it can also be so much fun. Remember, you are doing this for you. You are here to learn and grow, no matter what your background may be. You deserve to be here, and we are happy to have you. Thank you for reading! I will leave you with a quote from Nelson Mandela,  

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”  

(Bio: My name is Georgia Grace Wright, a junior at MSU majoring in Communication Studies. I also have minors in both Creative Writing and Anthropology.)