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

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.)  

 

 

Time’s Up – Michael’s Final Blog Post

After 4 long years of college and three great years at MSU, my time has finally come to an end. I have experienced so many great things during my time in college, and I am finding it hard to believe I’ve made it here. Because this is my final blog post, I figured I would reminisce about my experience here at MSU, and what the future holds for me next.

Where It All Began

Back when I was in high school, I had the opportunity to visit Missouri State for a campus tour. During this visit, I fell in love immediately. The campus was amazing, and the people I met during the visit made me feel like this could truly be my home. From that day, I knew I would go to MSU in the future. However, my parents and I had decided I would do my first year at Metropolitan Community College – Longview, so I had to wait. Luckily, MSU made my transfer experience easy, and even set me up with an advisor who helped me plan out my coursework before I even came.

A Big Change

When my sophomore year rolled around, I got to transfer to MSU in the Fall of 2019. Luckily, with some experience I had at Longview, I was able to help start the peer counseling program that I still do today with the Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST), giving me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and students over the next few years. Along with this, I had officially started my journey as a cell and molecular biology major in the College of Health and Human Services! One of the best things about MSU is that, even though I was a transfer, I had so much help finding my way around campus and getting integrated into my coursework.

Trying to Do the Most I Can

The Center for Academic Success and Transition that I work for had begun to grow significantly, which was a sign of good things to come. I got to give speeches during events, volunteer at special gatherings for students, meet with my peers one-on-one to help them, and so much more. I always wanted to make sure I was doing all I could to make a change here at the university, and in the long run I hope I did something to make MSU a better place. With all of this going on, I worked hard as a CMB major in preparation for entering a graduate program in Genetic Counseling. As some people might know, being a CMB major can be difficult, so I had to put a lot of time into being the best student I could be. Along the way, I met some of the best people that I know will be lifelong acquaintances. Even when things got tough, my professors and peers always found a way to bring me up, and push me to keep moving forward. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be who I am today, so I owe the world to all of them.

Where Am I Now?

As of right now, I was lucky enough to become a CAST Ambassador through the Center for Academic Success and Transition, and I am a BMS 111 Instructor in the Biomedical Science Department. I have had the great opportunity to make a change in students lives with the purpose of helping them become more prepared for the future, which was my dream back when I started all of this. Whether it was through meetings with me one-on-one, or through my teaching in class, I hope I found some way to make those students lives a little bit better. Because some people may have been wondering, I have recently been accepted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Science’s Genetic Counseling program for their 2024 class! Because of my rigorous work as a CMB major, it not only helped me become a qualified applicant, but it helped me grow into the student I always wanted to be.

What Comes Next?

As of right now, I am set to graduate in a few weeks, which is scary! I feel like MSU is my home, and I am finding difficult to leave, but I know that I have a bright future ahead of me. I will start my Genetic Counseling program in August of this year after moving to Little Rock, Arkansas, and I am so excited. However, I will make sure to keep in touch with things here at MSU. My time as a student success advocate has shown me that each and every person at this campus cares for it’s students, and every student has the potential to be amazing.

Because this is my final blog post, I wanted to give out some thanks. First, I want to thank CAST for giving me the opportunity to do these great things during my time at MSU, because it has given me so much joy every day. I wanted to thank everyone who has followed along with me for the past two years of doing these blog posts. I truly care about making things better for those who attend Missouri State, and  I hope that these posts find their way to the people who need to see them. Last, I want to thank everyone at Missouri State that I got to work with over my time as a student, teacher, and student success worker. You have all made me realize that Missouri State is an amazing place, and anyone would be lucky to come here. Although I am leaving, I will always be an MSU bear, and I know that someday I will be back. Until then, good luck and thank you for being here!

The semester has been going by so fast and it is really getting close to final exams.  

Throughout the semester, I have been trying to get used to being back on campus after being at home since the pandemic started. Coming back to Missouri State was a huge decision to make, and more followed since then. As a student, you are deciding where your money goes, and in most cases that is towards tuition, food, and outside activities. I utilize parts of the money that I save to pay my tuition and to buy the weekly necessities like toilet paper. Learning or figuring out how to save money as a student is a challenge because you are balancing other things in your life. Throughout the semester I have re-taught myself how to save money, find good deals, and just avoid unnecessary purchases. I like to have fun outside of classes and be able to purchase things when I need them, so money is a key factor in my life.  

I want to share the top things that I do to save money through finding good deals and avoiding unnecessary purchases so that you can utilize this information and become more financially comfortable.  

Saving Money 

Avoid Unnecessary Purchases 

One of the things that always gets to me when I shop is seeing new things or finding great deals for items that I do not really need. I try to keep my mindset on what I need, not what I want because I would like to have lots of things. However, wanting unnecessary things can be a problem for my bank account. I tend to change my mindset when I am shopping for fun so that there are boundaries. Once those boundaries are created then you can see a return in your account, just like I did. 

Shopping Boundaries  

In order to avoid buying the things you don’t need, it’s important to set boundaries that can stop you from making those purchases. I like to have a set budget or create a list of what I need so that I don’t get off track. After you purchase what you need, that money that was saved after making those purchases can go towards things you want or future activities. I like going out with my friend and exploring the parts of Springfield that I’ve never seen before.  

Finding Good Deals  

Paying full price for things is simply fine, but when I can find a good deal, I tend to take advantage of online extensions and student offers. Missouri State has a coupon book with great deals inside it that you can pick up at Meyer Library and you can sometimes catch some deals on the bulletin board area in Plaster Student Union. Some websites do offer student discounts if you are a university student so that you can avoid paying full prices. I also use online extensions that have coupons and deals that you would not be able to find online just to make shopping easier. 

Takeaways  

Being an adult and being a student can be really hard because not only are you trying to further your education, but you are also trying to do things on your own without going broke. I have been using the methods that I have shared for a while, fortunately they have saved me big and small amounts of money. Information like this can last you for a lifetime and help you out when you need it the most, so I encourage you to see if this information can help you or the people in your life. To help you out even more, take a look at Missouri State’s resources to help you manage your costs of being a student.  

~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.) 

 

The Best Places to Take Photos on Campus

I hope everyone is having a brilliant spring! I’ve been spending lots of time outside recently to watch the flowers start to bloom and the trees grow back their leaves. This has inspired me, so I plan to take some time to go around campus with friends to take spring pictures. It is so important to take time to relax and spend with your friends. Having a photoshoot around campus is a great way to get outside to enjoy nature, laugh with friends, and create memories to look back on once you graduate. So I thought I could share with you all the places we like to go for the perfect background!

 The Vine Wall

A well-known classic around the MSU campus, the wall between the Plaster Student Union and Wells House is a gorgeous spot to take photos all year round, but it really comes to life in the spring! You can choose to have the iconic “Missouri State University” section in the background or go for just the beautiful green vines. Either way, your photo will get an amazing picture.

Blooming Trees in Front of Temple Hall

A lesser-known favorite of mine, the small trees directly in front of the color-coded lecture halls of Temple Hall are a great place to take your spring photos. My friends and I have had the trees in the background, and we’ve even crawled into their space to take photos from within the tree. The white petals surrounded us from all sides and made for a whimsical photo session.

The Stairs of Siceluff Hall

Siceluff Hall is one of the most gorgeous buildings on campus, in my opinion. The front side with the huge staircase that faces Hill Hall is a wonderful spot to take some photos, especially sitting poses. I have always loved the look of pictures where I am sitting on stairs, and that staircase is one of the best on campus!

The Fountain

Of course, I simply cannot make a list of the best places to take photos on campus without mentioning the fountain. Everyone knows it, everyone loves it! Just in front of Meyer Library, our fountain is the iconic center piece of Missouri State’s campus, and everyone should get a photo with it if given the chance. Be on the look out for Fountain Day, the glorious day that they turn the fountain back on after its winter snooze! This year, it is scheduled for April 12th, and there will be some fun festivities around as well!

Behind the PSU

The area right behind Plaster Student Union is filled with large rocks, trees, and pretty flowers in the spring. It is not only a great place to relax outside, but also a wonderful spot for a photoshoot. I love taking photos sitting on the rocks!

Takeaways

I hope that you like my suggestions and might think about going out to take some beautiful spring photos with your friends! I know that when I leave here one day, I will look back on these pictures fondly and remember the good times I had here at MSU.

Thank you for reading! I will leave you with this quote from Dorothea Lange,

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”

(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.)