A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Success Coach Introduction – Part 3 (Spring 2024, Week 7)

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Hello everyone, my name is Melyssa Hernandez and I am a Peer Mentor in the Center for Academic Success and Transition. I’m here with the third post to continue our series in introducing the Success Coaches. 

Taylor Duke
Photo by Jesse Scheve/Missouri State University

Taylor Duke

I would like to introduce our Success Coach Taylor Duke. She is studying to get her Masters in Science in Mental Health Counseling. When I asked her why she chose Missouri State she responded saying she was from Springfield and knew a lot of people going to MSU. 

One tip that she had for First-generation students was to not be afraid to ask questions! I think this is a great tip because students can be afraid to ask questions or ask for assistance. Faculty and staff are here to support you in all of your endeavors. Missouri State has a lot of great resources on campus to gain new information. One great resource to utilize would be a Success Coach! Taylor shared that a Success Coach is great to have someone there for you. They provide assistance and overall a positive effect to support your goals and college experience. 

Lastly when I asked Taylor for a personal slogan she said “Life’s what you make it.”

Temiloluwa Adeyemi
Photo by Jesse Scheve/Missouri State University

Temi Adeyemi

Next, I would like to introduce our Success Coach Temi Adeyemi. She is pursuing her Masters in Project Management with a certificate in Data Analysis. When I asked her why she chose Missouri State she shared that the coaching position stood out to her and she wanted to be a part of the student’s success stories. GA positions are great opportunities for personal development but to give back to the students as well.

She also promoted meeting with a Success Coach to gain an accountability partner. This accountability partner is someone in your corner who can help you with many skills including time management and studying tips. She also recommended meeting with a Peer Mentor because they are colleagues that are on the same level as you are. They are able to give you a student’s point of view. She emphasizes expanding your support circle!

Lastly when I asked Temi for a personal slogan she said “Be there. Be present.”

Watch for more posts this semester introducing the rest of our Success Coaches!

~Melyssa

(Bio: My name is Melyssa Hernandez, a junior majoring in Psychology, with a minor in Child Family Development. Fun Fact: I am a triplet!)

Success Coach Introduction – Part 2 (Spring 2024, Week 5)

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Welcome back Bears! Now that the semester has had time to come into full swing, I will be continuing the new series introducing our Success Coaches in the Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) office. Our Success Coaches are a wonderful and helpful resource for students and this is a great way to get to know them!

What is a Success Coach?

A success coach is a graduate student interested in helping undergraduate students succeed. Our success coaches can help with academic skills such as meeting deadlines, time management, goal setting and reaching, test preparation, and identifying strengths and weaknesses. You can use the form to meet with a success coach. This semester we are lucky to have twelve coaches with a variety of backgrounds and available times to meet that work with you and your schedule.

 

Destiny Henry
Photo by Jesse Scheve/Missouri State University

Destiny Henry

Destiny is currently studying master of professional studies with a hospitality focus and chose Missouri State for the degree options available to her.

What advice do you have for First-Generation students? It gets easier, I promise!

(note from Daniel: This is especially relevant right now since we are at the beginning of a new semester in a new year, and it can take a while to adapt to the unfamiliar environment that comes with college life.)

Why should students consider reaching out to a success coach or peer mentor? We can support you, we can guide you, we can help you in many areas.

What is the strangest thing in your backpack? A worry stone

If you were a brand, what would your slogan be? She did it anyway.

 

Fahaad Al Abbadi
Photo by Auguste Bayramgeldiyev

Fahaad Bin Waheed Al Abbadi

Fahaad is pursuing a master’s degree in computer science and chose Missouri State because it is very affordable and has a high cost-benefit ratio

What advice do you have for First-Generation students? Explore more and ask questions!

(note from Daniel: I think this is great advice, as it can sometimes be difficult to reach out.)

Why should students consider reaching out to a success coach or peer mentor? To explore more options, and to make things easy!

What is the strangest thing in your backpack? Either cookies or an umbrella

If you were a brand, what would your slogan be? Learn Together!

Takeaways

They are only two of the 12 success coaches we have this semester, but you can be assured that they are all very dedicated to making sure students have the tools they need to succeed. Make sure to check the blog for more introductions to learn more about how our success coaches are dedicated to helping students.

~Daniel

(Bio: My name is Daniel Kim, a junior majoring in Microbiology/Biotechnology, with a minor in Chemistry. Fun Fact: I can play more than 3 instruments)

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.)