A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Introducing Hallie (Fall 2022, Week 8)

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HallieGreetings, Bears! My name is Hallie, and I’m a new Peer Mentor in the CAST office. I’m super excited to contribute to the weekly blog posts! For this week’s post, I wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about me.

Who are you?

I am a sophomore from Bentonville, Arkansas majoring in Philosophy with minors in Geology and Creative Writing. I’m also involved in several organizations on campus, including Student Activities Council and University Ambassadors.

Why did you choose MSU?

When I toured the Missouri State campus as a high school senior, I couldn’t help but feel like I was a part of the community. I saw myself living here and building a life for myself here. I know it sounds cheesy, but there’s something so unique about our campus that’s hard to put into words. Now, as a student who has been here for over a year, I definitely feel like I’ve built a life for myself, just like how I saw myself doing back then. MSU also has so many amazing resources for students, and there’s something for everyone to get involved in.

What is your favorite study spot?

There are a lot of places around campus where I like to study! If I had to pick one, though, I would have to say the third floor of Temple Hall. That’s where the department of Geography, Geology, and Planning is housed, so they have all of these cool maps hanging on the walls, as well as some rock and fossil displays. I also like that I get to walk by the turtles that the Biology department has on the second floor on my way up. If I’m not in Temple Hall, though, I’ll most likely be in the library. I love the lobby, the individual study pods on the second floor, and the little window directly under the bell tower that overlooks the fountain.

What’s one thing you worried about before you started at MSU? How did you deal with it once you were here?

It sounds kind of weird, but I think the biggest thing that I was worried about was that I would get trapped in a field that I didn’t enjoy. I’ve always had a hard time doing things for myself, and I’ve had a tendency, especially back in high school, to do or decide things based off of what others expected of me. I hate the idea of disappointing people that I care about, and I’ve let that affect some of my decisions in the past. I was worried that I would unknowingly make a decision just to fulfill others’ expectations of me, and that I would end up unhappy with no way out. At first, college was really weird for me, because I had the freedom to choose on my own what classes I took, as well as what major or minor I wanted to study. I struggled at first, but I’m lucky enough to have met friends and people here that have taught me that it’s okay to do things for myself. It’s harder than it sounds, but it helps if I remind myself that people who want me to disregard my own happiness for their expectations aren’t worth my effort or time, and that a lot of college students are in the same boat as me in terms of trying to feel at home in their academics. I still have work to do, and I still have to be reminded to take care of myself sometimes, but I can proudly say that I am very happy and I am studying what I love.

Thanks!

Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about me! You’ll be hearing more from me in some future blog posts. I can’t wait to tell you more about my experiences as a student at MSU. See you soon, and as always, Go Bears!

~Hallie

(Bio: I’m a sophomore out-of-state student studying Philosophy with minors in Geology and Creative Writing.)

Communicating with Your Professor (Fall 2022, Week 4)

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Communicating with Your Professor

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time at university, it’s that it is okay to ask questions. Not only is it okay, it’s also vital to your success as a student. Whether you are well-versed in this, or have no idea how to start, I think it will be beneficial for anyone in their professional lives to know how to effectively communicate with other people, particularly those who are teaching you. Below is a list of tips and tricks that I have learned through the years to enhance your professional communication skills.

Office Hours

Every professor at Missouri State is obligated to have a number of office hours every week during which they must be available to students for questions about the class and other student support. These will be listed on the course syllabus and may be in-person or virtual meetings. Utilize this resource! It will not only give you a chance to connect with your instructor, but it will also set you up for success in the course.

Email Communication

Barring in-person interaction, the number one way most professors prefer to be contacted is through email. Here are some general rules to follow:

  • Rule #1: Always use your university email (Bear Mail) when contacting your instructors. In addition, always put your course number and section in the subject line, or as the first line in the body of your email (ex. COM 115-001).
  • Rule #2: Before sending the email, make sure you are addressing the instructor correctly. If you’ve been in class and know their preferred title, great! Use that. If not, first you should go to MissouriState.edu and type their full name in the search bar. Once you’ve found their profile, check their education to see if they have a doctoral degree. If so, use Dr. If not, and you aren’t sure whether Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Mx. is appropriate, your go-to should be “Professor [their surname]”.
  • Rule #3: It’s nice to start with a greeting. This could be a simple “Hello,” “Good morning,” or “Good afternoon,” depending on the time of day. Technically, you can email professors during the night hours, but just know that it is unlikely for them to respond until the following morning.
  • Rule #4: Use appropriate language. Avoid any profanity or unprofessional terms.
  • Rule #5: As a general rule, keep it formal at first. It is sometimes the case that you and a professor will become more comfortable with each other over time, and then you can pull back to more casual writing while maintaining the professional relationship.

Final Thoughts

These are just a couple of the common ways to reach out to your professors. I also recommend speaking up in class if you have a question. You never know if someone else is wondering the same thing! Some instructors like to linger after a class is over or show up to class a bit early, both of which are great times to chat with them about your coursework or get to know them a bit. Bottom line: your professors are here to help you succeed. They are a fantastic resource, and there’s no sense in letting that go to waste. Thank you for reading, and I will leave you with this quote from Stephen Covey,

“Admission of ignorance is often the first step in our education.”

~ Georgia

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

A Letter to My Freshman Self (Fall 2022, Week 2)

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A Letter to My Freshman Self

Welcome back to campus! I hope everyone had a pleasant first week back at Missouri State. My first week was quite busy, but overall, a great experience. I got to see old friends and make new ones. I’m still adjusting to my new schedule, which is a lot busier than I am used to, but I know I will feel much better once I’ve gotten into the groove of things. For this blog post, I wanted to try a different format and write a letter to my freshman self. I wanted to be able to tell my younger self about all the things I wish I had known during my freshman year.

Dear Georgia,

I know you are so excited to start your freshman year of college. I realize that you probably think that you have no idea what you’re doing, but trust me, you will figure it out! There will be a period of adjustment, tears, and frustration, but you will get through it. I should know, I am you. The hardest part of doing anything is getting started, so you have already gotten the jump on things. You had the courage to begin, and now you just need the persistence to stick it out. To help you do that, here is a non-exhaustive list of things you may want to know:

  1. You will need to study. I know, this is a real bummer, but it will serve you well! You have to figure out what works for you, and that will take some trial and error, but you will get there. It’s not as bad as it seems, and can even be fun! By the way, try making studying into a game because as it turns out that works out well for you!
  2. Learn the Bear Line routes. I am saying this as a favor to your future self, considering I am a senior now and have just figured them out. It’d be great if you could do that sooner. Please and thank you.
  3. You are going to make some great friends. They say you make your best friends in college, and I am here to say that they are correct. That randomly assigned roommate you have, for instance. She is going to be one of your closest friends. Even though you are in a new environment, don’t be afraid to talk to people!
  4. Talk to your professors. I know you’re a sociable person, but I am here to tell you that extending that into interacting with your instructors will be so helpful. They are there for you! They can be used as excellent resources and references for future endeavors.
  5. Study what you love. I know you’re a little unsure about your field of study right now. I’m letting you know that you made the right choice! There is no need to stress over such things. You have all the time in the world, but life is still short. Spend your life doing something you actually enjoy.

I hope this helps when you need it the most and if nothing else, this should put your mind at ease. You’re going to be okay and an even better version of yourself at the end of it all. You’re going to grow and change so much over the next few years so just sit back and let it happen. Allow yourself the space to learn and improve and who knows, you just might thank me later.

With all the love,

Your future self

Takeaways

I hope this was as useful to you as it was for healing me. Consider writing a letter to the younger version of yourself too. It’s a nice feeling to tell yourself that you’ll be okay. Let those parts of yourself that were scared, nervous or excited know that everything will work out one way or another. Even if it’s not what you thought it’d be, it’ll turn out just as good. Thank you for reading, I will leave you with this quote from Haruki Murakami:

“When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what the storm’s all about.”

~ Georgia

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

End of Semester Q&A (Spring 2022, Week 16)

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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 (Spring 2022, Week 15)

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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.)