A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

Living Alone (Fall 2023, Week 14)

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Greetings, Bears! I can’t believe that we’re already at that point in the semester where things are starting to wrap up. One of the many changes that can occur with the change of the semesters is housing arrangements, as some students move to different residence halls, off-campus, or even potentially have a roommate move out. With those changes happening, I wanted to use my post this week to talk about a perspective that I can share, for any students who may be living alone or preparing to do so for the first time—especially if it was not your first choice. Unfortunately, the holiday season can also bring upon feelings of loneliness for many people, so I thought I would give you my tips, as a student who has lived alone both on and off campus, to help you combat those potential feelings and make the most of your living situation.  

Getting Involved

As I have mentioned in previous posts, getting involved both on and off campus can greatly aid in combatting feelings of loneliness, as well as help you get out of the house (or residence hall/apartment). This can look like a lot of different things, whether you join an organization or just spend time with friends. Either way, it’s important that you make time in your schedule for you to do those things, so that you can prevent feelings of isolation from others. Both the MSU campus and the Springfield community have endless opportunities for involvement. Try to find at least one thing you can start doing every week, even if it’s small, so that you have something to look forward to. I, for example, sometimes like to go roller skating on weekends when I find that I have nothing else to do. If you give it a chance, you are bound to find something that you enjoy, both on and off campus.   

Finding Hobbies

Something else that you can do to help yourself better adjust to living alone is find a hobby or two that you enjoy doing, or something that you will happily devote some extra time to. Occupying yourself at home can make the days where you don’t have class, work, or any other commitments that you are involved in feel more purposeful, as well as bring you joy! Filling your free time with hobbies is a completely necessary act of self-care. Your hobbies can be whatever you want them to be as long as they make you happy. Even in the busiest weeks of the semester, devoting time to your hobbies is a great way to relieve stress or feelings of anxiety about living alone.  

Making the Most of Your Space  

For those who are living alone or preparing to do so unwillingly, it can be hard to believe that there are good things about living alone, but I promise you that there are perks. One of the bigger benefits of living in a space by yourself is that you have full creative control! Another thing that you can do to bring yourself comfort in your living situation is make it your own, which can look like all sorts of things. I loved having the ability to decorate my first residence hall room however I liked, and there’s a chance that you will love that too! Feel free to experiment with décor to create a space that you feel at home in. Feeling comfortable in your space can also aid in combating loneliness and similar anxieties.  

Takeaways

I hope, especially if you are approaching an unexpected solo living situation, that these tips help you feel more comfortable with the idea of living by yourself. It might also be that you have chosen to live alone willingly, which I have done too. No matter what, though, any student is subject to potential feelings of loneliness, even if you live with several roommates, and hopefully these tips can apply to those situations too.

Remember that if you are experiencing feelings of loneliness or unhappiness regarding your situation, there are several on campus resources that can help you, including The Counseling Center and our very own CAST office! Our Peer Mentors would love to talk with you about getting involved on campus and finding other on campus resources. You can request to meet with a Peer Mentor online or come to our drop in hours (Fall 2023: Tuesdays, 1 to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.). I hope that you have a joyful holiday season (if you celebrate) and the best Winter Break. Good luck with the rest of your semester! 

~Hallie 

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

How I Manage My Time (Fall 2023, Week 12)

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Hello again, Bears! I am happy to be back for another blog post. This week, I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about something that I have struggled with throughout my college career: time management. Have you ever found yourself at 10 o’clock at night asking yourself “Where did the day go?” If so, we are a lot alike. There are many ways that you can conquer time management, and you might already have your set strategy. However, if after midterms or at this point in the semester you are second-guessing yourself or find that you need a new time management plan, you might benefit from my personal time management strategy. Here is what I like to do if I find myself at the end of day asking where the day has gone.  

Knowing My Commitments

Whenever I reach a particular moment where I feel like I’ve lost touch with my time, the first thing that I do is make sure that I know how much of my time I need to devote to all of my commitments. This usually looks like making a list of everything that I have or want to do, like class, work, studying, or hobbies and self-care. I am a visual person, so it helps me to have everything physically written out on a piece of paper. At that point, I usually write out any time that absolutely has to be given to something. For example, I’ll write down when I have class or work, as well as how much time each day I know I need to spend doing homework. Even if I don’t end up making a strict schedule or routine for myself, I find that being conscious of how much time I am spending doing certain things still helps me manage my time much better.  

Deciding My Priorities

When I figure out how much time I have outside of specific commitments, I’m left with an amount of time that I can delegate to whatever I want. This is when deciding what my priorities are comes into play. What I consider a priority can change depending on what I’m doing or what I’m involved in at any given time, but regardless of what they are, I make sure to set aside amounts of time left over from the previous step to be dedicated to those priorities. Lately, my priorities have been self-care, studying, writing, and spending time with my new cat! However, if I have a set of exams coming up, my priorities may change, and I might decide to spend more time studying than writing. The opposite also applies—if I find that I’ve been stressed out lately, I’ll tend to prioritize self-care over studying if I know that I’m in a good place academically. Either way, consistently reflecting on my priorities also aids me with managing my time, even if I don’t follow through with the next step.

Making a Routine

Once I rediscover my current commitments and priorities, I like to sit down and make a routine for myself. It isn’t usually super structured, mostly because I don’t like it to be that way, but even the loosest of structures helps me. Even if you’re like me and don’t like to have things strictly scheduled, a light routine might still benefit you, because it takes away the mental task of deciding what to do at a given time. For example, I like to schedule my time in blocks. In my current routine, I give myself an hour each night for homework or writing. If I come home from school or work that day and I know I have a lot of homework that day or coming up soon, I’ll typically use that time to do homework, but there are also days where I don’t and I choose to write instead. After that, I take a break from schoolwork or writing, and I give myself two hours of free time. I can essentially do whatever I would like, whether that be reading, watching TV, spending time with my cat, or sometimes I continue to do homework or write if I feel inclined to do so. The nice thing about creating your own routine is that you decide what it looks like, and you can also change it at any time if you’re having a hard time sticking with it or you’re unsatisfied with the amount of time that you’re dedicating to a specific thing.  

Takeaways

Even if you already have your time management plan set in stone, I hope you enjoyed learning more about mine. I think that it can be beneficial to learn about how other peers conquer the challenges that college brings, and if you’re wanting to learn more about my strategies or the strategies of the other amazing Peer Mentors and Success Coaches, come visit us in the CAST office! We are now offering drop-in hours on Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., so don’t hesitate to come see us if you are struggling or if you just want to talk. You can also request a Success Coach or Peer Mentor by filling out our Request Form. I hope that you continue to have a successful semester, and I will see you again soon in a future post! 

~Hallie 

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

The Little Things I Love About MSU: The Campus Squirrels (Fall 2023, Week 8)

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Welcome back to another blog post, Bears! This week, I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about something a little more light-hearted and humorous. Any Missouri State student or faculty member has seen them—when you leave a building or turn a corner, they are there, digging in the trash, hopping through grass, or climbing trees. I’m talking about the campus squirrels, of course! I love the squirrels on campus, so I thought I would provide you with a couple of personal stories from my encounters with them to give you a little brain break from your midterm studies. Here are two stories of mine from when I’ve run into a squirrel on campus.  

A Bad Day 

On a warm spring day last semester, I was walking back to my car parked in Bear Park South after getting out of a club meeting. I don’t remember much about that day, but I do remember being in a bad mood. I was tired, and the person sitting behind me in my club meeting had been kicking my chair, which happens to be one of my bigger pet peeves. I was ready to go home, and I was walking pretty fast. I was making my way under the trees behind Plaster Student Union when, all of a sudden, I heard something rummaging around in a nearby trashcan ahead of me. Before I could walk past it, a squirrel jumped out onto the sidewalk right in front of my feet and held a full-size burrito in its paws. Right in front of me, it opened its mouth and took a very large bite, but I don’t think that the squirrel liked it very much because it dropped the burrito on the ground and went right back into the trashcan. I thought the whole thing was pretty funny, and I also learned that squirrels probably don’t like burritos. The incident made me smile, and the rest of my walk back to my car was pleasant.  

An Unexpected Encounter 

A few weeks ago, I was once again walking back to my car in the parking garage. This time, though, it was much later in the evening, because I was coming back from a reading hosted by the English department. I remember being happy because they hosted a poet that I had been reading in my poetry class, and it was so cool to hear him read some of my favorite poems of his. I was walking directly under a tree in front of McDonald Arena when a huge bundle of leaves attached to a branch hit me on the top of my head, fell onto my left shoulder, and then onto the ground. It was big enough that I turned around and looked up into the tree, only to find a mischievous looking squirrel sitting at the end of the branch I was under where the bundle must have fallen, looking right at me. I still don’t exactly know what that squirrel’s intentions were at that moment, but I can’t help but think that it was at least somewhat responsible for the leaves falling on my head. Either way, I found the encounter funny, and I laughed about it to myself for the rest of my way back home. 

Takeaways 

After reading this post, you might be wondering why, of all things, I decided to write about squirrels. Well, as the title implies, the squirrel population on campus just happens to be one of the many little things about this campus that I love. I hope that my anecdotes, while silly, serve as a reminder to you to enjoy the little things in your life that make you happy. Sometimes, if you’re having a bad day like I was in my first story, a small thing like a squirrel eating a burrito can turn your whole day around, and it’s important to cherish those things. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed and you find that an encounter with a campus squirrel does not entirely lift your spirits, come and see us in the CAST office! We have amazing Success Coaches and Peer Mentors that want to help you succeed, and we are now offering drop-in hours on Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. I wish you luck on your midterms, and hope that you enjoy your Fall Break!  

~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.)

Farewell (Spring 2023, Week 16)

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Alexandria Posing in her graduation stole
Photo credit: Allyson Ly

It’s surreal really- I don’t think that I truly understood the weight of graduating and trying to determine the next steps of my life like I do right now. I’ve been a college student for five years and a peer mentor for three years, nine months, and twenty-nine days. Time definitely went by slowly but the fewer courses that I needed to complete the more time seemed to speed up. This particular blog post is being written because my time as an undergraduate student and peer mentor is coming to a close. As one of the first peer mentors that Missouri State has had, I will be handing over the reins to my present and future colleagues.  

How it started  

I came to Missouri State because I wanted to both experience college for myself and obtain my business degree. I had no clue what college life was going to be like, but I was excited to be in a new place and meet people. I struggled with my responsibilities as a student and as an individual, being away from home for the first time. There were times when I wanted to go home, or I really just missed being around my family, but I worked hard to get through my first year. As a sophomore, I took the advice of a campus staff member and decided to try out an on-campus job because I wanted to pay off my tuition and have money to spend when I needed it. After reading the job description for what was initially called a “peer counselor” I decided to apply for the job and was later hired. Being a peer mentor was my first ever job and I got a chance to experience things that I wouldn’t have otherwise.  

Thank you  

I don’t think anyone really goes into college expecting to leave exactly how they came in. I definitely won’t leave Missouri State the same and I am grateful for that. I learned so much about the campus and just how many resources MSU has to offer its students. I was able to take what I was learning from being a part of the Center for Academic Success and Transitions (CAST) family and help other students around me. I want to thank my bosses, Kelly Wood and Tracey Glaessgen, for taking a chance on me while allowing me to not only grow but help other students in their pursuit of success. Suzanne Mwengi, the CAST secretary, is also someone that I would like to thank because without her guidance and welcoming demeanor I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill my role as a peer mentor. Every person that has been a part of CAST presently and in the past has helped me out in some capacity whether it’s answering my questions, listening to me talk, or just giving me the motivation to keep going. I can sit around and thank every single person that I have encountered but a better use of your time and mine is just saying thank you. Thank you to my CAST family, peer mentors, graduate assistants, and anyone that I was fortunate enough to meet during my time at Missouri State.  

Thoughts  

I realize that life does go on but I’m definitely going to be sad from time to time about closing this chapter of my life. I experienced so much in college from the pandemic to just attempting to become friends with strangers. I’m excited to see where life is going to go after college, including how I’m going to feel about not having morning classes or assignments that need to be turned in.  

Takeaways  

Deciding to come to Missouri State after graduating high school in 2018 was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. I met some of my closest friends, experienced personal growth, and made connections with people that I didn’t expect to. I’m extremely fortunate to have done so much in five years and I can’t wait to see how the peer mentor program develops in the years to come.  

I want to tell you to not be afraid to try things out of your comfort zone and if you do and it doesn’t work out, be ready to try something else. From one student to another, take in every moment that you can, and enjoy your time as a student. 

Thank you again to everyone for contributing and helping me with my success. I’m truly happy with how things have turned out for me and wish all the best to Missouri State Bears. 
 

~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.)