A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Student stories from our peer counselors

New Year, Improved You! (Spring 2025, Week 4)

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Welcome back, Missouri State Bears! I hope you enjoyed your first weeks back at school and are adjusting to your new routine. With the winter semester upon us, we can also celebrate the new year! While the “New Year, New Me” mentality may be cheesy we can apply this sentiment to ourselves this academic semester. With the new semester, we are in different classes, around different faces, and adapting to new schedules which may be intimidating at first. Don’t you worry, while change may be scary, change allows us to grow and be better versions of ourselves.

Tips on how to succeed in the new semester

1. Plan to attend classes regularly!

The cooler season can sometimes make staying cozy at home seem like the better option, but consistency is key when it comes to success in your studies. Attending class regularly helps you stay engaged, absorb new information in real-time, and allows you to participate in discussions and activities. Plus, missing class can lead to gaps in understanding and additional stress later when trying to catch up. The momentum of attending class regularly will help you stay on track for the entire semester.

2. Plan out your week in advance.

Organizing your time effectively is one of the best ways to keep stress in check throughout the semester. By using a paper planner or digital tools like Google Calendar, you can create a visual layout of your week, helping you identify deadlines, exams, study times, and breaks. Breaking down each task into manageable steps will help you keep procrastination down and make your tasks feel more achievable.

Peer Mentor tip: Don’t have a planner? Stop by the CAST office (Meyer Library 116) to pick up a free planner!

3. Reach out to your instructors early.

Don’t wait until you’re struggling to reach out to your professors. Getting to know them early in the semester can be incredibly beneficial. Introduce yourself, express interest in the course, and ask any questions after reviewing the first week’s material. By reaching out early, you show initiative and commitment to succeeding in their class.

4. Make a Friend in Class!

With the new semester, everyone is getting in the groove of their new classes. A familiar face in class will help you feel more comfortable and connected to the course. Having a study buddy or someone to share ideas with can significantly increase your understanding of the content. Making friends in class can lead to better engagement and create a more enjoyable classroom atmosphere. Plus, friends can help you when you miss a class or need clarification on something.

Reach out for help

Be sure to request to meet with a success coach or peer mentor if you have any questions. They are wonderful resources to use, whether to learn about Missouri State, and academics, or just have someone to talk to. The Center for Academic Success and Transition is always here to support the students in their overall success and well-being.

Takeaways

Take this new semester, new year opportunity and make it the best academic year yet! While I have only provided a couple of tips, be sure to find out what works for you! Being in the unknown this semester may be scary, take the strides to help improve yourself! Know that there are resources and people always there to support you. I hope everyone has a great rest of their semester and Go Bears!

~Melyssa

(Bio: My name is Melyssa Hernandez, and I am a senior studying psychology. Fun fact: I am an out-of-state student from Chicago, Illinois)

How to Read Online Textbooks Effectively (Fall 2024, Week 6)

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Welcome back, Missouri State Bears! For this week’s blog post, I wanted to focus on a study tip for academic success that highlights modern-day technologies. In the twenty-first century, we are faced with more and more technological advancements, especially in the world of education. One lead change I’ve seen is the change from physical to online textbooks. While the content is the same, how you access and measure your understanding can look different. 

 

Utilize All of the Tools Provided

A common feature of online textbooks is the toolbar or functions that are available while reading. The first helpful tool is the “quick search tab” where readers can search keywords or topics to be directed to pages that cover the subject. This can speed up the pace of reading or help relocate information that needs to be referenced again. 

Note-taking should always be practiced when reading your textbook and that is no different when reading on a screen. Clicking on a line of text or selecting the notes icon allows readers to make a direct note in the section of their choice. Flashcards are less frequent but a great tool if available on your platform because it quizzes your knowledge. Some flashcards may be premade and others may allow you to create your own with frequent vocabulary words you find necessary to review. 

The last tool I want to talk about is the audio function. One of my favorite ways to read my online textbooks is while I’m cleaning so that I can listen to the content while actively getting other tasks completed.

 

Make Adjustments Where Needed

If reading online textbooks is new to you or if you feel like you aren’t getting the most out of the experience, my next tip is to make adjustments to how the text is displayed and/or how you access the text. Here are some adjustments that have made a difference in my enjoyment and memory recall and may help increase your success in your classes. First, I recommend adjusting the brightness, line spacing, and font styles so that you have enhanced visibility as needed. Second, have the text read aloud to you so that you can read and hear the information together to further your understanding. Lastly, find out if completing mindless tasks or eliminating all distractions works best for you. I work better when my hands are moving and I’m busy with a task such as cleaning but others may need to zone in and close out other tabs to focus. Discover what works best for you and stick with it!

 

Takeaways

Textbooks are a resource for each of your classes and should guide you in your learning. Understanding the content and getting the most out of a textbook is important for the applied knowledge in the class. If you want more tips for academic success or need guidance in your study habits, visit with 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.)

~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!)

The Power of Active Learning (Fall 2024, Week 4)

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Welcome back bears! I hope the first weeks back at school have treated you well and that you’re starting to find a rhythm in your classes. As a university, we are at a point in the academic schedule where test materials, essay drafts, and project assignments are starting to be assigned for the weeks ahead. We have several blog posts from previous semesters that cover these topics (Finals / Test Taking and Study Tips) but I wanted to write about strategies for engaging in the college classroom before the midterm point. Engagement is achieved through both active listening and learning in the classroom so the terms have been used interchangeably in this post. 

What are Practical Ways I Can Start Actively Listening?

I wanted to break down three practical steps you can apply to your learning this week:

  1. Participate in class discussions. If you find that your instructor relies heavily on discussions and breakout groups then you can start prepping before class with the provided materials if you were assigned a reading the week before to analyze it and create discussion questions to share with your group or to carry the conversation with an instructor. 
  2.  Ask your instructor questions. Arriving early to class, staying after, or utilizing office hours shouldn’t feel like an intrusion because they are there for you to succeed. If something isn’t making sense, you want to seek clarification on an assignment or a grade. If you have school/career-related questions, take advantage of the opportunity to ask an expert—your instructor!
  3.  Follow along at the pace of the course. Attending each class and following along with lecture notes and assignments will keep you on track making it easier to listen. If you fall behind or skip a class period you’ll be playing catch up as opposed to coming in prepared to learn new material. 

How Engaging In The Classroom Will Impact You Outside The Classroom

Each of the actions I listed will push you as a student to become more academically driven as you grow more comfortable in these practices. Connecting with classmates and instructors is a networking technique that will advance your career opportunities. In addition, practicing now will set you up for success in the post-grad world where collaborating with others and participating in discussion is the expectation. Lastly, active listening is a key component in relationships of all kinds.

Takeaways

Active learning is not something that will come easily especially if it’s not already a common practice for you but starting somewhere is important. I challenge you to try one of the tips I listed to listen in the classroom and see if you note any differences. I hope that this blog post served as a motivation to put your best foot forward and take charge of your education. If you want more advice on what success in the classroom looks like, the Center for Academic Success and Transition Success Coaches and Peer Mentors would be a great resource to contact. 

 

~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!)

Planning for Success During Finals Week (Spring 2024, Week 16)

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Welcome back to another blog, Missouri State Bears! This week marks the last week of the spring semester with finals following. Each semester has looked different for me depending on my final schedule and I have found that to be true for other students as well. In this blog, I wanted to discuss what a finals week can look like and ideas to implement throughout the week. 

 

Start of the Week

At the start of the week, I would advise all students to create a schedule of finals, studying times, planned breaks, and other activities. Having a plan at the start of the week will hold you accountable and keep you on track to success. All professors will communicate when the class final or project is due and this will help create a timeline of what courses will need to be prioritized before others. Once you have an agenda of when finals will be tested and when projects and papers are due you can create a study schedule and implement brain breaks. I have found this to be an extremely helpful practice because you can ensure that you study in even increments of time and take fair amounts of breaks. 

 

Middle of the Week

At midweek you may have already taken a final or you may be on your last day of preparation before heading into one. If you have already taken one or many, pat yourself on the back and take a moment to reflect. Reflecting on all of your hard work and what you took away from the course will aid you in your next endeavors. If you are still preparing for finals that take place at the end of the week, remember to look back at your schedule of studying. Looking back at what you wrote at the start of the week will allow you to see if you have stayed on track with what you planned to achieve by this point. 

 

End of the Week

You made it! You completed a semester of hard work that you should be proud of and celebrate. I hope that everyone has great success during finals week, but I also know that finals week can be a hard week with final grades being determined. Regardless of your results at the end of the semester, if you feel that you would benefit from meeting with someone to discuss your options, joys, or concerns you should consider the Center for Academic Succes and Transition. Success Coaches and Peer Mentors are available to meet with students through request or drop-in hours. (Drop-in hours change every semester; see the Student Academic Assistance page for this semester’s hours.) Come by and see us in Meyer Library 116 if you need help or have a question!  

 

Takeaways 

If preparation is completed beforehand, finals week does not have to be a week to be afraid of. Before next week, write out all of your end-of-semester requirements and deadlines, plan study times, and plan brain breaks. Stay strong throughout the week utilizing the resources offered at Missouri State University including meeting with a Success Coach or Peer Mentor. Good luck!

 

~Aubrey

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

Surviving Midterms (Spring 2024, Week 7)

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Welcome back Missouri State Bears! We are already at week seven of the semester which means it is midterm season. When outlining my assignments for the week I realized I had several study guides to create and terms to study before the week ahead. Coming into college, I viewed midterms as a daunting task that I needed survival mode turned on. I have learned that with good study habits and preparation, midterms don’t have to be anything to fear but instead something to manage. 

Plan Ahead

The first tip I have for midterms is knowing enough time in advance when you will be tested. You can find most midterm dates in the syllabus of the class. I find it easiest to write all important assignment dates in my planner including midterms. You can pick up a free 2023-2024 planner in the CAST office if you need a fresh slate for writing important tasks out. Once you have the task written out you can better map out a schedule of when to start studying. 

Schedule Study Times

Setting aside designated time to study for each test will ensure that you complete the studying but it will also help avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed. I personally don’t study well in groups but for those who do, I advise planning at least two weeks in advance. Two weeks gives the group enough time to bring questions back to the classroom before taking the exam which is key. While you should have an understanding of the content being tested it is okay to ask questions for clarity.

Utilize Office Hours

One tip that I think many students tend to skip over until they hit survival mode is meeting with professors. Don’t wait until the week of or after the midterm to have a conversation with your professor. In the weeks leading up to the exam if you find yourself struggling or wanting further guidance, attend study hours. If fear arrives at the thought of meeting one-on-one with a professor, try practicing first with a friend or a peer mentor. A peer mentor is an undergraduate student who wants to meet and help students combat these fears and other issues that arise as college students.

Takeaways 

Midterms are designed to enhance your understanding, not to instill fear. So as midterms are just around the corner be sure to plan ahead, schedule study times, and utilize office hours.

~Aubrey

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