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College of Education News

Prioritizing yourself: Active Minds on campus

September 26, 2019 by Abigail Blaes

Emily Haarmann smiles

“No matter what someone has going on, we wanted people to know that it’s okay to not be okay.”

Emily Haarmann is a senior elementary education major and is the former vice president of the student organization Active Minds.

“Active Minds is an organization whose main goal is to simply start the conversation about mental health,” Haarmann said.

Getting involved

During Haarmann’s sophomore year, she and her best friend, Molly Mullen, were looking for an organization to join on campus. They wanted an organization they were passionate about and could relate to.

“Molly and I both went through pretty significant events in our lives, and we both knew mental health was so important to us,” Haarmann said. “We started attending meetings and grew to really appreciate them. I could tell what it did for my own mental health.”

After encouragement from the Active Minds group, Haarmann began to take advantage of the Counseling Center and prioritize her own mental health.

However, Active Minds hit a bump in the road when it was announced the organization wouldn’t be returning to campus the next year.

Rebuilding from the ground up

“I received an email from the adviser for Active Minds asking if I could pick up the group where it left off,” Haarmann said.

Haarmann rallied Mullen and a few other loyal members of Active Minds to get the organization going again.

Mullen was the Active Minds president and Haarmann was the vice president.

“Being a part and facilitating some really powerful conversations has been a great eye-opener to how important the conversation is,” Haarmann said. “I think it’s so important to let students have time to talk to others about their feelings and ideas.”

Applying Active Minds in her classroom

Ever since the beginning of her education path, Haarmann knew she wanted to make mental health education a priority in her classroom.

“I wanted to create lessons that taught my students tools on how to recognize, validate

and handle emotions in their lives,” Haarmann said. “Most importantly, I wanted them to know that someone cared and loved them and that my classroom was a safe place.”

Haarmann recently was placed at Glenridge Elementary School in Clayton through the Internship Academy program. In the Clayton school district, social-emotional learning is a focus area in classrooms.

“It’s about putting the child first and helping them solve problems in a way that doesn’t punish them for having emotions,” Haarmann said.

She believes teaching kids about physical health is just as important as teaching them about mental health.

“Teaching kids small tools will give them transferable skills to grow in the future for when they’re handling bigger emotions,” Haarman said. “I want them to know that it’s okay to ask for help.”

Interested in Joining Active Minds?

Active Minds meets about once a week and discusses increasing awareness for mental health issues. Haarmann had to take a step away from campus and from Active Minds because of her internship but promoting mental health awareness will always be a priority for her. She encourages interested students to give it a shot even if they’re apprehensive.

“It’s extremely low commitment, and it’s not a group that makes anybody talk,” Haarmann said. “You can go and just listen.”

Haarmann found the consistency of Active Minds’ meetings helpful after she transferred to Missouri State.

“It might seem scary or intimidating but take the time to listen to your feelings and let those feelings be validated,” Haarmann said.

If you’re interested in learning more about Active Minds, email the current Active Minds executive board at activeminds@missouristate.edu.

Filed Under: COE Students, Elementary Education Tagged With: student spotlight

Breaking barriers on Bear Breaks

May 9, 2019 by Abigail Blaes

Boschert's and Elbert's trip to Colorado

Shelby Boschert, Joe Elbert and Kate Weiser spent their break from classes serving others. These three College of Education students have a passion for helping others. They traveled across the country with Bear Breaks to learn invaluable skills. These skills will serve them well as they enter classrooms.

To Colorado 

Boschert's and Elbert's trip to Colorado

Boschert, senior early childhood education student, and Elbert, junior special education major, co-led a trip to Colorado focused on helping children and families. Elbert and Boschert began prepping and planning for their March trip in September of 2018.  

Boschert and their group served at the Children’s Hospital in Colorado. The trip took a total of 11 hours for the crew. After arriving in Aurora, a blizzard hit, causing the team to adapt. 

“Joe and I had to be flexible and make sure that reflection and service was a priority,” Boschert said. 

At the hospital, the group worked in the child care center, crafted with patients, siblings and parents, distributed snacks to the nurses, and ran community activities. 

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The experience Boschert and Elbert had in Colorado was more than just a service trip. It’s helped them in their professional development. 

“Bear Breaks has reinforced the idea that schools are meant to be a safe haven for students,” Elbert said. “Our students may have chaos in their life after school.” 

“Bear Breaks showed me firsthand how these issues can affect my future students and gave me ideas on how I can help them.”

“There’s so much that classes alone cannot teach you,” Boschert said. “Bear Breaks helps to supplement that. Being a great teacher means you are open to change, experiences and want to continue to grow as a person and a teacher.” 

To New Orleans 

Weiser and her group in New Orleans

Weiser, sophomore middle school education major with an emphasis in history and science, led a trip to New Orleans focused on sustainability.  

Like Boschert and Elbert, Weiser and her co-leader spent nine months planning for the trip. Weiser enjoyed her two years with Bear Breaks so much that she now serves as the director of membership and education for the organization. 

Weiser’s trip to New Orleans included working on educational farms and gardens.  

“The people that welcomed us into their project homes and shared their life stories with us are something I will never forget,” Weiser said. 

Her passion for service started before college.  

“When I came to MSU, I felt like something was missing,” Weiser explained. After volunteering during MSU’s Day of Service on campus, she sought out other service opportunities and found Bear Breaks. 

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She found her place in Bear Breaks and found great friendships in the group she led this past spring break. 

“Each one of the participants was amazing and really brought great skills to the team,” Weiser said. 

“We were truly immersed in the city of New Orleans and made a connection to the city that no tourist walking up and down Bourbon Street could ever experience.”

Like Boschert and Elbert, Weiser plans to use the skills she’s developed from this service in her classroom.  

“My leadership skills were pushed to the max over the week,” Weiser said. “I have grown in every single way.” 

She plans to start her own educational garden in her future classrooms thanks to her Bear Break experience. 

Filed Under: COE Students Tagged With: Bear Breaks, service, student spotlight

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