Christopher Robin said, “always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” I am a lot of things. A first-generation college student from a blue-collar family. A “good student” who made good grades in high school with little effort. I am also the person who dropped out of college her sophomore year. If you took a snapshot of the hot mess I was then, you would not believe that I would become one of 100 students in the USA selected for a co-op to help open Walt Disney World’s Disney MGM Studios, nor would you think I would go on to earn three degrees including a doctorate. What changed between leaving my sophomore year at Thanksgiving and coming back two semesters later?

I decided to take heed of Christopher Robin’s advice. I decided to be brave and try college again. I decided to be strong enough to take care of myself physically. That meant doing things like sleeping and occasionally eating fruits or vegetables, even when those around me weren’t. When faced with an obstacle I decided to be smart enough to ask for help. I failed college algebra, not once, not twice, but was failing a third time when I decided to ask the guy who lived down the hall in Freddy if he would help me. I ended up doing homework six days a week while my friends did not have to, but it paid off. Not only did I earn a good grade, the “guy down the hall” became my best friend and we will celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary this year. How did I land a sweet co-op at Walt Disney World? I was brave enough to put myself out there and smart enough to utilize the Career Center to help me apply and prepare for my interview.

Missouri State University is a campus full of faculty, staff, students, departments, and alumni who want to help you succeed. So, be brave and smart enough to take care of yourself and ask for help. Don’t be afraid to fail, you are strong enough to bounce back. As Marilyn Monroe said, “Just because you fail once, doesn’t mean you’re gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don’t, then who will?”

Dr. Jerri L. Arnold-Cook, Career Resources Specialist
Career Center