There is a part of me that is ready for Spring 2020 to be over, done and in the past. Then there is that other part of me that is thankful for this time for self-reflection.

As this semester is ending, I have been thinking about everything that I have missed during this COVID-19 pandemic. The late-night movies alone in my dorm room, the cookies and chat with a girl in my wing, the meetings of the Honor Society for which I am now Vice President.

However, I am thankful for the time I have had at Missouri State so far. I went through recruitment for Xi Omicron Iota and an Honor Fraternity. I met three amazing girls during the recruitment process of XiOm. Before we left campus, I had the opportunity to meet our University President and the new Department Head of Marketing. It has been an honor to meet them both.

As we have gone fully online, however, I have also gotten to reconnect with my Arkansas roots. Yes, I am from Arkansas, don’t judge me!

To our three graduating TA’s, Colton Franklin, Melanie Morgan and Korra Ackerson, congrats! You did it! Now is your time to go out into this unpredictable world and work your magic! We are all proud of you and know that you all will do great things.

~Rhiannon

(Bio: My name is Rhiannon Casey, a transfer student from Arkansas State University. I am currently a Junior Marketing Major with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotions.)

It’s The Final Countdown

The time has come: finals week. Per usual, finals week is always a stressful time for all of us, and I can tell that I’m feeling it. I definitely didn’t expect the semester to turn out the way it did, and something also makes me feel glad that we at least made it to the end.

Take a Deep Breath

Now, I can guarantee that I’m not the only one who is slightly stressed about finals. However, I think that good preparation will be key. Since we are home, we have plenty of time to get studying done! Also, I want to make sure to meet with and email my teachers as much as I can in order to receive help. Plus, coming up with a schedule for the week will be really important. Keeping track of your tests and when to study is always a good idea to help us stay on track.

Don’t Stop Believing

Along with our stress, I understand that a lot of us will face fear and anxiety as well. With this in mind, I think that there is one thing everyone should remember going into finals: There is always an opportunity to do amazing. No matter how you stand in a class or how the past few months have gone, there is always a chance to do amazing on the final! So this semester, go in facing finals with confidence and I know we can do great.

~Michael

(Bio: My name is Michael Rexroad, a transfer student from Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. I am a junior currently studying cell and molecular biology with a minor in chemistry.)

The semester is finally coming to an end in the next couple weeks and, honestly, I could not be any happier. This whole semester feels like one giant nightmare that does not want to end.

I am getting tired of doing group projects and people in general. I have to do a Plansbook for one of my Marketing classes. However, working with my group has been difficult and we aren’t communicating well.

With all this going on, I am reminded of a quote by Dale Carnegie who was born in Maryville, MO.

“Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.” -Dale Carnegie

~Rhiannon

(Bio: My name is Rhiannon Casey, a transfer student from Arkansas State University. I am currently a Junior Marketing Major with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotions.)

Home Away From Home

During my time at Missouri State, I have realized this campus is not only where I come to learn, it is where I am comfortable, where I can focus, and where I go when I need help from someone. It has become my home. And although this COVID-19 pandemic has sent all of us back to our homes elsewhere, it feels like it has done the complete opposite.

A Few Weeks Later

These few weeks of quarantine have been interesting to say the least. We are currently in the midst of registration, regular school work, and finals week creeping up on us. It’s almost like a cherry on top of our COVID-19 sundae! All jokes aside, it’s easy to see how all of this can be stressful for us, and makes it seem scary moving forward.

So What Are We Going To Do?

As things have progressed, I have heard from a lot of people about their struggles and fear of what has been going on. Some people feel like they have lost valuable time on campus, found work harder in our current format, and are worried about what will happen in the following semesters. First, I would like to say I am always thankful that people share with me their feelings and concerns, because I am always glad to do my best in helping others get through hardships. So with this in mind, I want to help reassure everyone that things will be okay. Our Missouri State staff are working hard to find every way to help us through these tough times because they truly do care about us. And we have to remember that we are MSU students most importantly. I have seen some of the most amazing students in my time here, and it makes me have great confidence that we will all find success moving forward. We are all here for a reason!

Finishing Strong

Because our semester is coming to a close and finals week is on it’s way, I wanted to remind everyone of some great ways to feel prepared and relax in these last few weeks. When it comes to studying, make sure to cut out time during the day for studying. Because we are at home, it’s easy for us to overlook what we might need to get done. If you get a little stressed out, always make sure to take a break. This could be playing video games, talking with your family, or wrestling with your dog. As long as it’s something you can enjoy, because I think having a little fun is always important. Lastly, find some time to truly relax and take your mind off things. Possibly take a walk, sit outside and watch a sunset, or maybe even lay down and close your eyes for a while. Finding some time to reset your brain and get a fresh head is super important for our health and academic success. I hope all of these tips help everyone out, and I wish everyone the best of luck.

~Michael

(Bio: My name is Michael Rexroad, a transfer student from Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. I am a junior currently studying cell and molecular biology with a minor in chemistry.)

I’ve had the same honest emotions for a long time now starting with happiness, fear of the unknown and just growing anticipation. Within the last few weeks, I’ve thought about a lot of changes I want to make for my future career and I’m working to change a few things in my lifestyle. Everything is completely thrown off due to COVID so I’m trying to outweigh my positives from the negatives. My schedule, unfortunately, is like the definition of messed up because it seems like no matter how much sleep I get, I’m still tired and I still have course work that needs my attention. I don’t think I’m the only person that just wishes for time to slow down but, from what I’ve experienced already, time and life don’t stop for anyone unless the inevitable happens.

All negatives aside, I’m really enjoying being at home with my family and being able to ask for help when I need it or just to talk their ears off about how my semester is going. New additions to my lifestyle include some occasional jump roping, an iced coffee in the morning and a nice and quiet atmosphere to get a few things done around the house. This week is pretty mellow compared to my last week of classes but I’m working ahead and focusing on a few DIY projects I can get done. With finals approaching, I’m going to need some things to keep me occupied and de-stressed. I’m starting off with painting one of my room walls with chalkboard paint and creating some door signs to let my family know when I’m on zoom calls, taking tests or getting assignments done. I know that there are lots of things happening right now that we can’t control. I’m going to do what I do best and just focus on what I can accomplish now because if I don’t, I’ll lose sight of what’s important.

“It’s when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached.” Mike Huckabee.

~Alexandria

(Bio: My name is Alexandria Givens, and I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a sophomore business major at Missouri State University.)