A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Building Your Support System (Fall 2023, Week 6)

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Greetings, Bears! I am so happy to be back for another semester of blog posts. If you happened to read my posts from over the summer, you may have noticed that there was quite a bit of discussion about the first-time freshman student experience. Chances are, if you are a freshman, you have had at least a little bit of time to adjust to your new life here on campus—but that doesn’t necessarily mean that things are perfect. At any stage of your life or college, you may encounter difficult times or have a hard time adjusting to change, and that is when having a support system becomes very important. Building and maintaining a support system is something that I have struggled with, so I want to use my post for this week to talk about something that you could be struggling with too.  

What is a “Support System” and Why is it Important?

“Support system” is a term usually used to refer to the people in your life that you can turn to for emotional support. In most cases, this can refer to your friends, family, or other close people in your circle. However, when you’re in college, your system can expand because you have access to so many different resources. It’s important to be aware of these resources, as well as build and maintain a support system, because even the strongest people need support during tough times. College is an amazing and fun experience, but it can also present its own unique challenges. Building a support system to help combat these challenges can look like all sorts of things, but most college students find their support in family, friends, and on-campus resources.  

How to Build Your Support System

Most people looking to build or enhance their support system turn to friends or family. Even if they are further away, your family can still be a great way to find support. Your relationship with your family members can change and vary while you’re in college, but if you feel comfortable doing so, there is absolutely nothing wrong with turning to your family for support when you’re in need. Sometimes, your family can know you better than you know yourself and provide helpful insight about things that you may be experiencing. Friendships are also important and can do great things for your mental health. Good friends want to provide you with support and can also provide validation and advice. Oftentimes, it also just helps to have someone to talk to about your troubles. If you are in need of support, don’t be afraid to ask friends or loved ones for help; they want to support you and see you succeed.  

As a college student, you also have the opportunity to expand your support system by utilizing on-campus resources. One of the many great resources available to you is the Counseling Center, which is located in Magers Health and Wellness Center. Counselors can help you build your support system, but also serve as support themselves. As a Missouri State student, you have access to 8 counseling sessions per semester, but the Counseling Center also hosts other forms of therapy and skill-building workshops. You can find those listed on their website, along with links to many other resources.  

There is also, of course, our office! The Center for Academic Success and Transition has both Success Coaches and Peer Mentors that are available to support you and guide you to success, both academically and as you navigate life at MSU. If you are interested in meeting with a Success Coach or Peer Mentor (or both), you can fill out the request form on our website. Other areas at MSU where you can find ways to build your support system include the department and college for your major, your academic advisor, the Bear CLAW, Foster Recreation Center and more. 

Takeaways

I hope that after reading through this post you feel reassured about all of your options for finding support both on and off campus. It can be intimidating sometimes, but everyone goes through hard times, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help and support from others. If you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that there are many resources and opportunities available to you on campus and through MSU to help you succeed! I hope that your semester is going well so far, and I will see you again soon in a future blog post! 

~Hallie 

(Bio: I am a junior out-of-state student studying Creative Writing with a minor in Philosophy.) 

Why I Chose Missouri State University (Fall 2023, Week 4)

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Introduction

I felt that it was only right that I reintroduce myself and how I ended up at MSU to all of our readers as it’s been a while since I posted last. My name is Aubrey Hardy and I am a junior here at MSU. I am a special needs education major and I serve as the treasurer for Alpha Sigma Alpha. I also work in the Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) Office as a peer mentor. Some values of mine include leading, growing, and mentoring so I also got involved with peer leading in GEP 101 and I’ve found a lot of enjoyment in that service opportunity. I usually have a full schedule with everything I involve myself in but I am so grateful for all that I get to do. 

First Impression 

I toured three different colleges during my senior year of high school and honestly wasn’t sure where I could see myself. I am from the Joplin area and knew I didn’t want to go too far from home but other than distance I didn’t know what else should go into my decision for picking a university. Missouri State was the first college I visited and while I had a good experience I didn’t have anything to compare it to yet. After my other two college visits, I knew Missouri State was where I was supposed to be. When I walked onto the campus at each college I paid attention to how welcomed I felt and the energy of the student body. Maybe it was the time of day or year that I visited each of the colleges, but Missouri State had the most lively and happy-looking student body. The way I describe it is that something was different about Missouri State and I already felt a part of something just being guided on the campus. 

Present Day

As I mentioned in my introduction, I am a junior here at Missouri State. I can confidently say that Missouri State University was the right choice for me. I am only an hour away from home, making home visits easy and enjoyable. I get to interact, work alongside, and meet the student body each day on campus when headed to work or class or for a social event and everyone is even more welcoming and lively than they were on the day I toured. I also stated earlier my top three values, all of which I’ve gotten to explore since coming to Missouri State. I’ve led in the classroom, off-campus organizations, on-campus clubs, and my sorority. I have grown in so many ways; I am proud to say that I am not the same person I was three years ago. And I’ve gotten several opportunities to be a mentor including in the Center for Academic Success and Transition office. I’m sure I would have found a way to implement these values regardless of the university I chose but I am thankful Missouri State is where I get to call home. 

Takeaway

Whether you are reading this as an incoming student interested in Missouri State, or a graduating senior I hope you were able to relate to my experience in some way. Picking a college can be hard but it always works out the way it is supposed to. After picking a college many more decisions follow but don’t allow yourself to do it alone. Utilize your resources like a success coach to help narrow down choices or find what is best for you. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. 

~Aubrey

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

A Guide to Welcome Weekend (Summer 2023)

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Hi again, Bears! I am happy to be back for another summer blog post. If you are an incoming Bear, you may have heard some buzz about the week before classes start, which we call Welcome Weekend. There are a lot of events that happen at this time, so I decided that I would use my post this week to talk about Welcome Weekend and all of the fun things going on! While move-in and Welcome Weekend is an exciting time for new students, it’s also a lot of information all at once, and can be overwhelming. I hope that, if you are feeling that way, this post eases your worries and makes you even more excited to experience your first weekend on campus! 

The Events 

There are so many different things that go on during Welcome Weekend, and it is truly impossible for me to talk about all of them. I’m going to focus on one event each day of Welcome Weekend, but if you want to know more about everything that goes on during Welcome Weekend, there is a full schedule of events on the Missouri State webpage.  

The first event of Welcome Weekend that is certainly worth mentioning typically takes place on the Thursday of move-in week. This event, kicking off Welcome Weekend, is the Traditions Tour. Missouri State has countless traditions, and this guided tour will introduce you to a few of them. If you’re new to Missouri State, I would highly recommend taking some time to take this 30-minute tour!  

You will definitely want to attend Playfair and Rally in the Valley on Friday. This is a pep rally that takes place in Plaster Stadium. The incoming class photo is taken at this event, giving you a chance to participate in history as a new Bear. This event, and many others, is a fun way to meet other students and get involved! This year, there will be live music, free food, yard games, and more.  

One of the biggest events of Welcome Weekend and the entire school year is on Saturday night. Many current MSU students return to campus for this party that we call Bear Bash. This is both an annual event and a tradition on campus, and each year offers something different! If you are going to attend any of the Welcome Weekend events, I recommend Bear Bash as certainly the one that you don’t want to miss. This year, it takes place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., and features a hypnotist, mechanical bull, live music, and much more. Be sure to take some time during your first Saturday night on campus to experience the fun! 

The last day of Welcome Weekend is, of course, the Sunday before classes start. The most notable event that takes place on Sunday, also an annual and traditional event, is New Student Convocation. This is a welcome ceremony for new students, where you will hear from our university president, Clif Smart. This ceremony is also the start of a full-circle moment, as it takes place in the Great Southern Bank Arena, where you will graduate when you complete your degree. Following New Student Convocation, there is a Student Organization Festival, where representatives from some of our campus organizations will be present to help you find the right organization for you. It is so important to be involved on campus and find joy in other things besides academics. Taking the time to attend both of these events might just change the course of your college experience!  

Takeaways 

While this is just an introduction to some of the many events that take place during Welcome Weekend, I hope that you feel more knowledgeable about what is in store for you when you come to campus. Between move-in, Welcome Weekend, and the first week of classes, there is so much information to take in all at once, but moving to college really is such an exciting time. If you are still feeling overwhelmed when you come to campus (and don’t worry—most people do), there are so many resources available to you to help you adjust to college life. One of these resources is, of course, our CAST Office, where we have friendly Peer Mentors and Success Coaches that are excited to help students succeed. Either way, I hope that you experience an amazing Welcome Weekend, and that you make time to enjoy yourself on campus before classes start!  

~Hallie  

(Bio: I am a junior out-of-state student studying Creative Writing and Philosophy.) 

 

What Should You Bring to Campus? Dos and Don’ts for the MSU Residence Halls (Summer 2023)

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Hello again, Bears! The summer semester is already over here on campus, which means that it is an exciting time for incoming freshmen Bears! If you are coming to campus this fall, chances are that you are packing or getting ready to pack up your things and move into the residence halls. You may also be feeling a little overwhelmed about what to bring to campus. If that is you, then you have come to the right place! In today’s blog post, I’m going to give you a few of my recommendations for things that you should or shouldn’t bring to campus.  

Bring… 

  • A small TV with Roku/Chromecast stick 

Did you know that you get a free HBO Max subscription as a Missouri State student? A TV is a great thing to have in your residence hall room. The MSU residence halls also have a separate WiFi network for devices like TVs and game consoles, so your streaming experience will be good. If you have a roommate, make sure you talk to them so you don’t both bring a TV. The residence hall rooms are pretty spacious, but you won’t need more than one TV! 

  • A plastic shower caddy 

Some students may tell you to bring a mesh shower caddy, but I am personally of the opinion that the plastic ones are the best. While they might be heavier and hold less than their mesh counterparts, the plastic caddies are much easier to clean and do not share the same risk of mildew. Sometimes, the showers in your residence hall won’t have a place for you to hang your caddy, so you want to have one that you can put on the floor.  

  • Additional storage 

 When you move out of your residence hall at the end of the year, chances are that you will have accumulated more than what you came to the residence hall with. You don’t want to be excessive, but bringing along extra storage will make the process of moving out easier. It also provides you with extra space to store things that you don’t use frequently, such as seasonal clothes. Consider bringing along a few storage bins or maybe an ottoman that doubles as a seat and extra storage.  

Don’t bring…  

  • A printer

Bringing a printer to campus isn’t really necessary, as there are many ways that you can print all over campus. It’s best not to take up space in your room with things that you don’t need. Each residence hall has a computer lab where students can print, and printing in the library is very accessible as well.  You can print up to 50 pages per semester in the residence hall computer labs, and you receive $60 of printing dollars for library printing every school year. This tends to be more than enough for most students, including me, and I am always printing out all sorts of English and Philosophy papers! 

  • Excessive additional furniture   

You may feel tempted to bring a futon or other types of furniture for your residence hall room to make things more comfortable or personal, but larger pieces of furniture take up a lot of unnecessary space. There are many other less space-consuming ways that you can make your room your own! Many students like to bring pictures, posters, lights, and other smaller things to decorate their space.  

  • Cooking appliances 

The Missouri State University residence halls don’t allow students to bring certain cooking appliances, like air fryers, toasters, or crockpots. There are some kitchen items that you can bring, like coffee makers, but be sure that you are familiar with what appliances you can and cannot bring. MSU also doesn’t allow students to bring microwaves or fridges into the residence hall rooms, but that’s because they are provided for you with the cost of the room!  

Takeaways 

These are just a few examples of things that I brought (or didn’t bring) to the residence halls when I was a freshman. While moving to college is a very exciting time, it is important to know what you should or should not bring to campus. You can see a detailed list of suggested items to bring and definite items to not bring, plus lots more useful information in the Guide to Move In provided by Residence Life, Housing, and Dining Services.  

If you are moving to campus soon, I wish you the absolute best of luck on your journey! Remember that, when you get here, there are some great resources on campus, including our CAST office, that can help you adjust to campus life. See you soon, and welcome to Missouri State! 

~Hallie 

(Bio: I am a junior out-of-state student studying Creative Writing and Philosophy.)                                                                  

                                                            

A Guide to Course Evaluations (Spring 2023, Week 15)

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Hi again, Bears! This week, I’m covering a topic that I myself have experienced confusion with in the past. Perhaps recently, as you’ve gone onto Blackboard, you’ve gotten that banner notification asking you to complete a survey, or you’ve received an email in your inbox asking for the same thing. If you don’t know what those notifications or emails mean, you are in luck! For this week’s post, I’ll be discussing what those surveys are, why they’re important, and how to fill them out.  

What Are Course Evaluations? 

Those Blackboard and email notifications that ask you to complete a survey are called course evaluations, and you’re most likely seeing them because it’s getting close to the end of the semester. Course Evaluations are exactly like their title makes them sound—the surveys are an opportunity for you to evaluate the courses that you have taken during the current semester. What they look like and the questions that they ask can vary depending on the department or class, but their purpose is the same. Course Evaluations give students the opportunity to voice their opinions about a class experience, and that information is used to change and improve the course for future students. Typically, course evaluations become available towards the end of the semester, and students are given a limited amount of time to fill them out. Most of the time, they’ll ask you typical survey questions, like agree or disagree statements, ranking statements, or multiple choice. Sometimes, there’s even a written response option provided, where you can go into detail about your experience.  

Why Are They Important? 

Course Evaluations offer students a unique opportunity to evaluate almost every aspect of the classes that they’ve been taking, including content, organization, and instructors. The university uses this information provided by students to better the course experience for future students. If you have suggestions for how a course can be improved, a course evaluation is probably the best place to share them. Not only are they convenient, but they’re also anonymous, so your opinion won’t affect you in any way. Course Evaluations are also a great place to discuss anything that you enjoyed about a course, as that can be equally as beneficial as any suggestions for improvements. In the same way that it is important to know what can be done to improve a course, it is just as important to know what a course or an instructor is doing well. You are not required to fill them out, but you should definitely make some time to, as it can only benefit the university and future students.  

How Do I Fill Them Out? 

Course Evaluations are very easy to fill out. When you go into Blackboard and get the banner notification, just click on the blue button that says “Complete the Survey”. That will take you to the evaluations and let you fill out whatever evaluations are open at that time. Sometimes, the time for evaluations are scattered, so every course evaluation may not be open all at once. If there are any evaluations available for you to fill out, you will receive Blackboard or email notifications, and you will continue to receive reminders until you complete them. The evaluations will ask you standard survey questions about the instructor and/or your experience in the course. Answer all of the questions truthfully, and when you’re done, just hit the maroon submit button at the bottom of the page. Your responses will be submitted, and you are done! Course Evaluations typically only take a few minutes to complete, but they can take longer if you include a detailed written response about your experience. If you have any issues accessing an evaluation, check the email you received for tips and who to contact for assistance. One common suggestion is to make sure to use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your web browser. After you complete a course evaluation, you should receive a confirmation via your Missouri State email.  

Takeaways 

Hopefully this information has helped you better understand what course evaluations are, why they are important, and how you can fill them out. If you can, try to make some time before the semester ends to complete your course evaluations. As a student, you deserve to have your voice heard, regardless of your course experience.  

It is so hard to believe that the semester is already coming to a close, but Finals Week is right around the corner! Now, more than ever, it is important to work hard so that you can finish strong. As always, remember that if you are struggling, want to improve your exam study strategies, or you just want to talk to someone, we have great Peer Mentors in the CAST office that you can meet with by dropping in during our Open Hours or by requesting one through our Student Request Form. I hope that you have a great conclusion to your semester! 

~Hallie 

(Bio: I am a sophomore out-of-state student studying Creative Writing and Philosophy.)