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.) 

Personal Growth Tips and Tricks (Spring 2023, Week 10)

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These last few months I’ve been slowly taking everything in around me from my impending graduation to just figuring out what my life goals are. The last few years at Missouri State have been playing over and over in my head and I have been reliving my college career. I can honestly say that I have grown tremendously in all areas of my life since becoming a student at MSU. Personal growth is a big part of growing up and being a college student because you’re moving as an individual with more responsibility. For this blog post, I wanted to give you all some tips and tricks related to personal growth. Personal growth or personal investment can be attested to through any new skills you learned, changes in your attitude, or if you’ve improved your mental health. Personal growth lasts a lifetime and it’s beneficial to your relationships or just making yourself happier.  

Personal Growth Tips and Tricks

Experience new things and places

Personal growth is all about developing yourself in order to have a positive impact on life so why not take chances to experience new things and places. You get a chance to learn more about the world around you and what it has to offer. New things also bring a variety of challenges and learning about different perspectives.

Give this tip a try on campus: MSU is full of opportunities for personal growth! Check out a new organization, go to a campus event that’s new to you, and look for a service trip or activity you can join. 

Take a look at yourself and what you are capable of 

Use opportunities to learn about yourself, what you enjoy, and what you excel at, and look for ways to extend yourself. Avoid comparing yourself to others. You’re only in control of yourself so try to learn more about yourself and who exactly you are.

Here’s how you can practice this tip: you are your biggest motivator so make sure you are giving yourself the time, energy, and attention that you deserve. You can meditate, do some self-care or motivate yourself with positive affirmations in the morning.  

Accept your failures and mistakes  

Life is full of failures and mistakes no matter how small but accepting them and moving on shows how accepting of yourself you are. With this tip, you are allowing yourself to experience your emotions, come back stronger and lead yourself toward success.

Put this into practice at MSU: if you ever fail an exam or an assignment, use that opportunity to assess how you are studying. Check out ways to get support, such as the Bear CLAW or visiting your instructors during office hours. The Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) is a great organization that can help students with academic support and provides information about helpful student services; through CAST’s student academic assistance page, you can request to meet with a Success Coach or a Peer Mentor.

Evaluate your life 

You are ultimately taking the time to see where you are in life, and what you hope to accomplish or help identify areas of your life that need improvement. This enables you to identify your weaknesses and work to change them leading to a better version of yourself.

You can utilize this tip like this: take a little time each semester or throughout the year to think about your major and see if it’s still something you want to do, or if there might be a different major out there for you. You can take the opportunity to find any internships or other experiences that can help with your future.  

Takeaways  

I got a chance to experience life away from my family and looking back on where I started there were a lot of changes I went through on my own. I visited new places, accepted my bad decisions, and took time to learn about myself. The thing about college is that you aren’t always ready for the growth that comes with independence. You’re going to grow as a person whether it’s academically or with your self-confidence. I’m hoping that my tips and tricks can help you with your own personal growth or put you in a position to think about it more. Growth is only natural and with college added to the mix it’s inevitable.  

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” – Steve Maraboli 

~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.)  

 

How to Guide to Campus Gadgets (Spring 2023, Week 7)

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How to Guide to Campus Gadgets

Hello, Missouri State! Recently as I walked on campus from work to class I passed by several Starship Technologies delivery robots. While they have been on our campus since September, this was the first day I noticed them. What caught my attention is that we have this resource, yet I have no idea how to use it. I asked several classmates and not only did they not know how to use the robots but they also made the comment that they were unsure how to use the Bird scooters. I then made it my mission to figure out both of the gadgets.

Starship Technologies 

The Starship robots deliver from all of our campus offerings of Einstein Bros. Bagels, Panda Express, Subway, and the Market Café 1905 (will be added soon). To order yourself a food or drink of your choice all you need to do is download the Starship Food Delivery app (iOS and Android). The service does work with the student meal plan dining dollars or you can pay through a personal account. Once you have the app downloaded you’ll be asked to “drop a pin” where you want the delivery to be sent. The app provides a map tracking how close your delivery is to making its way to you. Once your delivery arrives you’ll receive a notification through the app. Once you greet the robot you’ll be prompted to unlock and grab your delivery. An alternative use for the resource is the PSU pick-up. If you are headed to the PSU and want to skip the lines you can order on the app and pick up your order at the marked location.

As I learned more about the robots my curiosity grew and I found that they have technology that allows them to navigate obstacles, climb curbs, travel night and day, and they can even deliver in the rain and snow. This addition to our campus is a fun way to stay central to your location without skipping a meal. 

Bird Scooters

Like the robots mentioned above, you can access the scooters through an app. The app is called “Bird” and allows you to use scooters on and near campus. What I found to be the most helpful information when looking into this technology was the importance of not riding on sidewalks but using the bike lane when possible. Helmets and one rider per scooter are also expected regulations. When you finish using your scooter the process is pretty simple: leave the scooter at your stopping point (avoid blocking sidewalks, doorways, driveways, and all other right of ways) and take a picture. The Bird scooters do have a payment fee and the price increases the longer you ride. 

After understanding how these two additions to our campus work, I’m excited to try them. The two of these gadgets alone have made a fun atmosphere on our campus and I get excited now when I see both being used by students and staff.

“Technology is best when it brings people together.” – Matt Mullenweg

~Aubrey

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

Maintaining a Healthy Sleep Schedule (Spring 2023, Week 5)

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Maintaining a Healthy Sleep Schedule 

Greetings, Bears! I am so happy to be back again writing blogs this semester. This week, I’m focusing on a topic near and dear to me—sleep. There are many important factors that go into being a successful college student, but one of the most valuable (and honestly most overlooked) things that can make or break a student’s journey to success is sleep. How much sleep you’re getting can very much change how much energy you have throughout the day, as well as how effectively you’re able to focus and retain information, which are all key factors to doing well in any college class. For today’s blog post, I’m going to share some ways that I have maintained a healthy sleep schedule. 

Go to Bed and Wake Up at the Same Time Every Day 

One of the easiest ways to change your current sleep schedule into something better and healthier for you is to ensure that you’re going to sleep at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning. If you’re like me and you don’t like having a solid schedule, don’t worry! There are ways to do this without it feeling too restrictive. As long as you plan to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day, you can still plan to do things that you enjoy before or after that time. What is most important is that you’re consistent, so that your body can develop a routine. Make sure that you finish homework, studying, or other important things before your assigned bedtime. If you’re wondering how much time you should budget for sleep, that leads me to my next point! 

Get 7 to 9 Hours of Sleep Every Night 

College students, for the most part, get much less sleep than they need to. When you’re an adult, a healthy amount of sleep is between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, but how much you need can vary depending on a lot of different things. It might be beneficial to experiment just a little bit at first to see what amount within that two-hour span works and feels best for you. After doing so, you can budget that amount of time within your sleep schedule. Once you establish this routine, you’ll probably notice that you feel better and more energized! 

Improve Your Quality of Sleep 

Getting enough sleep is very important, but the overall quality of the sleep you’re getting is even more so. There are many things that you might be doing that could negatively impact how you’re sleeping without you even knowing it. Some things that you can be mindful of when it comes to improving your quality of sleep are ensuring that you’re avoiding caffeine or large meals before bedtime, as well as staying off of electronics as you’re getting ready to go to sleep. It also helps to avoid naps during the day and stay active so that it’s easier for you to fall asleep at night. Like I said before, there are many things that you could be doing to improve your overall sleep quality, so if you’re wanting to know more, do some research! Tips for better sleep are not hard to come by, especially on the internet.  

Takeaways 

I hope that you enjoyed this blog post, and that you feel inspired to change up your sleeping habits if you haven’t done so already. Even though it can seem tedious, crafting and maintaining a consistent and thought-out sleep schedule will only benefit you. If you’re still wanting to know more about what you can do to make sure you’re getting enough good quality sleep, there are some great resources on campus. Magers Health and Wellness Center is hosting an upcoming Wellness Wednesday event on March 29th that is focused on sleep. Be sure to check that out if you want more information!

Keep working hard, and as always, Go Bears! 

~Hallie  

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

Getting Crafty Eating Outside of the Dorm (Spring 2023 Week 4)

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Getting Crafty Eating Outside of the Dorm

Why do students want to explore options outside the dining hall?

Maybe you miss your family’s traditional comfort foods, maybe you’ve seen a shift in your gut health since at the start of the school year, or maybe you just really want to add to your list of recipes to try. Whatever the case might be, there are some great options to explore outside the dining halls.

Tips/ideas for getting crafty with what you have

Luckily Missouri State doesn’t leave us stranded, and we do have the student union that gives a handful of options for some of our favorite fast food chains. The Plaster Student Union offers a quick and convenient option for those of us that are on the go or those who are craving some fries and frozen custard. All dorms are also equipped with a community kitchen if you wish to try out some cooking of your own. One way to get crafty if you crave adventure is to utilize the gadgets the dining halls provide. Some of my favorites are the panini press machine, toaster, microwave, and the mini pancake maker. On Fridays when my friend and I didn’t have a class immediately following our trip to the dining hall, we would explore our abilities at the panini machine, and we began to call ourselves experts in the field. The small convenience stores on campus (located in the PSU, Hammons House, and Bear Park South) are all great resources if you are looking for a quick frozen meal to pop in the microwave for a night in. Missouri State is continuing to add services to our campus to provide alternative options, and I highly encourage everyone to try them out.

The benefit of friends

One way I have found to get the taste of homemade food I had long missed was by making friends with peers older than me. Through organization involvement, I have gained some amazing friends who have the resources to cook in the comfort of their homes. What I like to do is split the cost, or help clean while conversing with these friends. It is a great way to spend time together, and eat a good meal, and I always walk away having learned something new. Another option is to find a friend you can meal prep with. I personally haven’t done this, but I know others who enjoy cooking together and splitting the proportions to serve each other throughout the week. Next time you make plans with a friend who has a kitchen, maybe ask if they would like to cook together as an activity!

Couponing

The very last tip I have for getting crafty outside the walls of the dorm is couponing. Grocery shopping can be daunting as a college student especially when you are budgeting so going in with a few coupons helps guide you. I would pick out the free newspaper in the lobby of my dorm and cut out any coupons that appealed to me and my roommates, and we would use them throughout the week to add a change in routine while not spending too much to do so. Using this technique got me out of the dorm gave me experience shopping for food as a single person and not for a whole family, and gave me the responsibility I was longing for.

Conclusion

I would be lying if I said I don’t miss the dining hall at times. It truly is a convenience to walk down to the dining hall and have a meal ready especially now that I am in charge of feeding myself throughout the week. However, I was a freshman too, and I know that sometimes eating in the dining hall is the last thing you want to do and so I hope I’ve sparked some creativity through this post.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf

~Aubrey

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