A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Making Your Campus Feel Like Home  (Fall 2024, Week 10)

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Welcome back, Missouri State Bears! As a senior at Missouri State University, I feel like I know the campus quite well. This took me time as I had classes, meetings, or events in new buildings each year. The sooner you familiarize yourself with your environment, the quicker you become comfortable. When you are comfortable, studying becomes more natural, and the desire to stay connected on campus increases. I was inspired to write this post after celebrating 100 years of the Hill Hall academic building. Missouri State University is a beautiful campus – it’s time to explore!

 

Introducing Yourself to New Spaces

I challenge you to take a walk on campus and enter any building that you haven’t gotten the chance to visit. Without disrupting classes, locate the offices and resources found on each level of the building. You may discover something new that you wouldn’t have if you hadn’t adventured. It is not uncommon that you’ll find front desk staff in various buildings who may be able to inform you about what all their space has to offer. I took on this challenge myself and discovered the plant sale that takes place in the spring in Karls Hall and the study locations offered in Ellis. After completing my walk, I felt like I had a new understanding of what the university had to offer and I was excited to share what I learned with others.

 

Favorite Hidden Spaces of CAST Staff

I asked a few of the Success Coaches/TA’s in the office to list the spaces on campus that they’ve discovered and enjoyed for studying:

  • Sally – Basement of the library in the quiet zone 
  • Brooklyn – Balcony of Glass Hall with the overview of the soccer field 
  • Kuper – Second floor of the library behind the bookshelves 
  • Shahriyar – Behind the Plaster Student Union especially in the spring
  • Claire – Second floor of the library 

 

Why a Campus Feeling Like Home is Special 

As a student you spend a lot of your time on the campus utilizing resources offered and attending events, some students spend more time on campus than they do in their bedroom. To increase your academic success and enjoy your time at the university a key factor is feeling comfortable in the environment you spend so much time in. When you feel as if you know and love your campus your feelings will be contagious for those around you who may be looking for the same feeling. This campus is yours to explore and call home.

 

Takeaways

We are entering week 10 of the academic semester and you may be starting to feel homesick or the excitement of a new year may be wearing off or you just want to learn more about your campus. Whatever the reason, I think all students should introduce themselves to their campus the same way the campus did to the students. If you find that after this exercise you’re still longing to feel connected or to find ways to increase your academic drive or social life then stop by the Center for Academic Success and Transition office to meet with a Success Coach or a Peer Mentor. Our office staff would be happy to meet with you to identify possible opportunities. 

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, and I am a senior studying special needs education. Fun fact: I’ve read over 15 books this year!)

Preparing for Advising Appointments (Fall 2024, Week 9)

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Welcome back, Missouri State Bears! We are officially halfway through the fall academic semester and it’s already time to start thinking about the spring. It is also common that your instructors will be publishing mid-term grades and new opportunities will be coming up. Every student at Missouri State is paired with an academic advisor who meets with them to discuss changes in degree paths or other challenges/questions that may arise. When planning an advisor meeting for the next semester there is no need to stress – this blog is for you!

Create a Talking Points List

Every student at Missouri State is assigned an academic advisor, which means the advisors have a lot of students to meet with. Once you have a date on the calendar for the meeting go through and identify any questions you may have or advice you are seeking. Creating the list will keep you on track and lead to full productivity in the meeting so that you leave feeling confident. Examples of questions that you may ask an advisor:

  • What plan should I follow to graduate by my desired date?
  • What academic resources are available to support me in my courses?
  • What are the requirements of my major? Are there any GPA expectations?
  • What courses could benefit me in my major and my minor? 
  • What courses would you recommend to enhance my resume?
  • What is the drop/add date for courses this semester?

These are just a few questions that could be good to ask an advisor but you should feel comfortable asking your advisor anything related to campus academics. 

Review All of Your Documents Beforehand 

Oftentimes many of the questions students have can be answered by reviewing course descriptions, degree audits, or past advising notes. You can access these through your “My Missouri State” page and find the “Degree Audit” card or the “My Student Records” card. When you locate these documents you can do a deep dive to explore what possible options you have or eliminate some questions prior to your meeting to maximize your time together. 

If you want further guidance on accessing these documents or preparing questions for your advisor, visit the Center for Academic Success and Transition office to meet with a Peer Mentor or a Success Coach. You can request to meet or stop by during drop-in hours. (Drop-in hours change every semester; see the Student Academic Assistance page for this semester’s hours.)

Bring Supplies to Take Notes

When you meet with your advisor they will share with you new information, and updates to your program, and answer the questions you came in with. Your advisor can track the discussion in shared advisor notes on your student portal but it’s never a bad idea to bring your own form of note-taking. This will help with your engagement in the meeting and show that you’re ready to take action. If you need a refresher on the meeting or need access to links and contact information referring to the advisor note page is helpful.

Takeaways

Academic advisors are provided at Missouri State and they are ready to meet with students to encourage success in the classroom. To make the most of your time make a list of everything you need to discuss, review your personalized documents beforehand, and come to the meeting ready to listen. If you find that you need further guidance or support the Success Coaches or Peer Mentors of the Center for Academic Success and Transition office would be happy to meet. 

 

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, and I am a senior studying special needs education. Fun fact: I’ve read over 15 books this year!)

Student Government Association (Spring 2024, Week 14)

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Welcome back Missouri State Bears! This week’s post is exciting because we are collaborating with an on-campus organization. The Center for Academic Success and Transition and the Student Government Association (SGA) thought it was important to come together and share each other’s services and opportunities. If SGA is something you want to learn more about after this blog post, you can find contact information in the attached link concluding the post.  

SGA’s Mission 

The tagline of SGA is “Your student body, your student voice.” SGA is an organization made up of students from all across Missouri State’s campus looking to improve the MO State experience for all students, whether that’s through the opening of the Commuter Corner in the PSU or serving as a student voice in the hiring process of the new university president. The Student Government Association provides students with an excellent opportunity to truly make their Missouri Statement.   

Recent Resolutions

SGA has the opportunity to listen to the campus body and enforce changes that better the university. The SGA website has a tab titled “Student Proposals” where you can learn more on this topic, but in summary, any student has the chance to present their ideas of change to the representatives. Examples of recent resolutions that SGA has helped with are listed below:  

  • Establishment of a Commuter Corner in the Plaster Student Union 
  • Hosting a Leadership Summit for student leaders from across the university to develop their skills 
  • Hosting a Women in Leadership Mixer for female student leaders to connect with each other 
  • Construction of Bear Line shelters for stops along Greek Row 
  • Hosting Sustainability Week events that encourage students to practice environmentally conscious and friendly behaviors 

Student Testimonial

For a student member perspective of the SGA experience, we turned to Addie Kimmerle, a current first year student and senator. She says, “Through my membership in SGA, I have found that even though we each come from different experiences, we all share the common goal of creating a safe, inclusive, and entertaining environment on campus.” Addie also says that SGA is a great way to connect with other students with similar interests and diverse backgrounds. “SGA provides the opportunity for students to advocate for themselves, their peers, and their communities to inspire change that benefits everyone.”  

Takeaways

The Student Government Association has and continues to do a lot of great things for Missouri State, many of which you have probably seen around campus. Not only do they advocate for the needs of students, but they are also an amazing opportunity for student involvement, especially if you want to gain leadership and advocacy experience. If you are interested in getting involved with Student Government Association, consider visiting the Student Government Association’s webpage on the Missouri State website. This page includes all of the information about involvement with the organization, as well as answers to any other questions you may have.  

We hope that you enjoyed learning more about this incredible organization! As the semester approaches its conclusion, keep working hard and be sure to finish strong!  

~Aubrey and Hallie 

Campus Safety Features (Spring 2024, Week 8)

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Hello again, Bears! Welcome back to another blog post. This week, I wanted to discuss a resource that I think every student should be aware of. Have you ever spotted a tall red pole with a light on the top during your walks around campus, or received a Missouri State Alert on your phone? These features and many more come from the University Safety Office. As a student, you have all of the services listed here available to keep you safe while you are on campus, and you should absolutely know about them in case you ever encounter an emergency or unsafe situation.  

Blue Light Telephones

Remember those tall red poles with a light on the top that I mentioned a few sentences ago? Those happen to be one of my favorite safety features on campus. You have most likely seen one or several of these telephone poles any time that you’ve walked around campus. These poles, while they may appear unassuming, can provide essential help during an emergency situation. If you ever encounter an emergency or feel unsafe on campus, you can press the emergency button on the pole to activate the blue light at the top and immediately be connected to a dispatcher that is familiar with campus and can view your location via security cameras. University Safety also has a blue light telephone map of where all of the blue light telephone poles on campus are located on their website.  

Safe Walk

This is yet another great safety service available to you as a student. Safe Walk is an on-campus walking service that is available at any given time if you need an escort to walk with you from one location to another. University Safety works incredibly hard to keep our campus safe at all times, but this service is especially great if you are studying or on campus late at night and feel unsafe walking back to your car or residence hall. To receive this service, you can call 417-836-5509, and a campus safety specialist will be dispatched to you.  

Missouri State Alert 

Out of the three services listed here, Missouri State Alert is the one that you might be the most familiar with, considering that every student and faculty member is automatically enrolled in Missouri State Alert by being present on campus. If you ever receive a Missouri State Alert, whether on your phone or through email, it’s very important that you pay attention to these messages, as they usually detail university closings or potential emergencies that you need to be aware of. If you would like, you can manage your preferences for how you receive Missouri State alerts by visiting the Missouri State Alert page on the University Safety website.  

Takeaways 

Along with the services listed here, University Safety is an incredible resource that offers many other services to you. If you would like to learn more about all of the services available or how you can contact University Safety, the University Safety page on the Missouri State website contains all of this information and more.  

Our Peer Mentors and Success Coaches here in the CAST office can also help direct you to any on-campus resources that you might be interested in learning more about. Consider visiting us during our drop-in hours (Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) or requesting a meeting online. As you complete your midterms and get ready for Spring Break, I hope that you have a strong and satisfying finish to the first half of your semester!  

~Hallie 

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

It’s Time to Apply to be a Peer Leader (Spring 2024, Week 4)

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Welcome

Welcome back Missouri State Bears! As the new month begins it is time to start thinking about the months ahead. Scheduling fall classes is just around the corner and what better idea than to search all your options? One option is to consider applying to serve as a Peer Leader. The application for fall 2024 peer leaders opens soon, learn more below. 

What is Peer Leading?

Peer leading provides students at Missouri State University with the opportunity to partner with a GEP 101 professor to lead and educate students on campus involvement, time management, critical thinking, campus resources, the public affairs mission, and more critical knowledge needed to succeed at the university. The exact role of a peer leader can be unique for each individual leader, but there are some general roles that all peer leaders fulfill. These roles include:

  • serving as a positive role model for students, 
  • aiding students in their questions, 
  • providing assistance to the course instructor, 
  • helping students become connected to the university, and 
  • gaining leadership experience. 

The time commitment for peer leaders includes attending the GEP 101 course twice a week, attending the IDS 310 leadership course once a week, and any additional preparation that is needed to appropriately fulfill the roles. This results in approximately only five hours per week to make an impact and enhance student success through leadership. Peer leaders gain other benefits as well such as receiving 16 hours of university service hours, earning one credit hour for the IDS 310 course at no cost, gaining desired skills, receiving peer-leading apparel, and more. Becoming a peer leader will allow students to grow in their own capabilities and impact the lives of first-year students at Missouri State University. 

 

“My Peer Leader in my GEP class helped me through one of my toughest semesters.” – 2022 GEP 101 student

Peer leaders on October 23, 2023. Jesse Scheve/Missouri State University

How Can You Apply to be a Peer Leader?

If you are interested in applying to become a peer leader, we encourage you to attend one of the two peer leader information sessions. These sessions will be on Thursday, February 8th, from 12:30-1:15 p.m. and Monday, February 12th, from 12:30-1:15 p.m. via Zoom. During the information sessions, although the information sessions are optional, they will give you the opportunity to learn about peer leading in more detail and ensure that you meet the needed requirements to apply. Next, fill out the application and ask two people to submit references for you. These application and reference forms can be found on the First Year Programs website the Peer Leadership section. After completing the application and the needed reference forms, Dr. Glaessgen will contact you via email to schedule an interview. 

 

Zoom Information Sessions

Thursday, February 8th, 2024: (zoom link will be available on the Peer Leader recruitment page on February 8th)

Monday, February 12th, 2024: (zoom link will be available on the Peer Leader recruitment page on February 12th)

 

The Impact of Being a Peer Leader.

When we reached out to previous peer leaders we learned that peer leaders make an impact but are also impacted greatly themselves.

 

“I feel that I have helped three generations of freshman students have a positive first experience in a college classroom which hopefully allows for them to become more involved and more successful during their time at MSU.” –Zoe

 

“Peer Leading has helped me learn what aspects of leadership I am good at and what aspects I still need to improve, and I think it has had a positive impact on me in this way.” – Daniel

 

“Peer Leading has helped me grow my leadership skills but also interact with others as well. I learned to adapt to new situations and to be flexible in my leadership abilities. I have altered my perspective on what it means to be a leader.” – Melyssa

 

“I felt like I positively impacted Missouri State through my role as a peer leader by speaking about the variety of resources offered here. Not many students take advantage of resources like the Bear Claw, Clubs, and others like the Bear Pantry. MSU offers these to help students challenge any problems they might have. By speaking about it, it helps more students understand the importance of accessing them.” – Grace

Takeaways

A list of requirements can be found in this post and on the Peer Leadership Recruitment website. Peer leading is a great opportunity for those who are looking to find new effective techniques, helpful resources, and problem-solving skills, as well as for those who want to make new friendships; have a positive support system, a networking opportunity, and develop leadership skills.

 

— Aubrey Hardy and Olyvia Buzzanga