Ambassadors Enjoy "Pack the Stands" Homecoming Event

by Sarah Kelly

Outside of volunteering at events, UMSL ambassadors enjoy spending time together as well! With homecoming last week, the ambassadors’ social events committee planned an ambassador hang out at the homecoming basketball games to support our athletics teams and get to know one another better. 

As the UMSL Men’s Basketball team is in the midst of their best season yet, the Homecoming Steering Committee called for students to “Pack the Stands” at both the men and women’s basketball game on Thursday, February 27. This included a free nacho bar, free t-shirt, and other contests and giveaways!  

It was great getting to see other ambassadors and talk about what is going on in classes and engage in a more informal way than we normally get to. Cheering on the UMSL team together made me feel proud to be a Triton and lucky to have friends like these to enjoy the college years with. At a commuter campus, it can be hard to make friends and hang out with them, as our schedules can be hectic with school, homework, work, internships and everything else. The social events committee is making it easy to get to know one another better and take a break from the stress of everything else.  

The event was family-friendly with plenty of things for the kids such as face painting and a balloon artist. Since UMSL has a diverse student population, it is awesome to see inclusive programming that is geared towards some of our older student population that may have children or even grandchildren.

With both the men and women winning their homecoming games, it was a successful day at UMSL.

Overall, it was a great time spent with friends and a great opportunity to see what is going on at UMSL!

UMSL Homecoming is Here!

by Alex King

Hi Everyone! My name is Alex King. I’m a sophomore biology major here at UMSL, and this is my second semester as an UMSL Ambassador!

It’s finally one of my favorite times of the school year – Homecoming!

Homecoming Window Painting

Though it’s definitely not the norm, a famous UMSL tradition is that we hold our Homecoming events during the spring semester! UMSL’s first Homecoming in 1963 took place in February. Though Homecoming’s time in the year has changed throughout our history, our school spirit and commitment to service has stayed the same. 

I am especially excited for this year as it will be my first time participating in the competitions and events rather than just spectating. One of the organizations I’m involved in, Women Empowering Women, is sponsoring Jasmine Williams.

Jasmine is amazing! She’s a junior-level student, double majoring in political science and philosophy. I’m so happy she’s running, and I’m so excited to support her.

Even though I am pretty apprehensive about some events – especially the Lip Sync Competition – I am so pumped to compete (and win).

In high school, I went all out when participating in Homecoming every year. I loved planning our decorations, organizing the floats and all around being loud and having fun with my peers. I’m ready to bring that energy back and engage in some school spirit.

For those who don’t know the rules, each of the participating organizations sponsor one person to run for court. Throughout the week, each group competes to collect points by participating and winning events. The group that earns the most points wins. There’s also a campus-wide vote at the end of all the events.

CANstruction

Here are some of the many events that will be happening throughout

Homecoming: a Day of Service, two basketball games and “CANstruction” (to which all non-perishable items go to the Triton Food Pantry and Pagedale Family Support Center.

It’s nice to see how service-focused Homecoming is here at UMSL. As a university, UMSL is really engaged in service and within the St. Louis community; and it's amazing to see that reflected in an event that's often solely focused on fun. 

There are so many ways people can get involved, even if you yourself are not a member of a participating organization. Many of the events are open to everyone, like the Lip Sync competition and the basketball game. There’s also the Homecoming dance. Though I’ve yet to go myself, I’ve heard amazing things.

No matter how you celebrate Homecoming, I hope everyone has fun. Come out, support your peers and show off your UMSL Pride!

See you all around campus!

Guidelines to Accomplishing Your Goals

by Kevin Mitchell

At one of our previous ambassador monthly meetings, we talked about the value and struggles of setting goals. These goals ranged from setting time for studying and homework to trying to stick to a fitness routine. We discussed multiple different approaches to completing these goals.

One approach was to have a person hold you accountable to goals. The idea behind this approach is that you will care more about not letting the other person down. However, to some people, this approach will not have enough reward or punishment to work for them. To make this approach more viable to these people, we have added a twist to it. These twists may be a tip/swear jars (For ex. The jar can serve as a punishment on your wallet, as every time you fail to complete your goal, the person, holding you accountable to your goals, makes sure you put money in the jar).

Another approach included setting smaller deadlines throughout the day for yourself to complete smaller goals. The approach expands on the concept that some people, get more done if they have little amounts of time to work on it, rather than hours since they know they have plenty of time to finish the task at hand. It allows them to prioritize their time and use it more effectively rather than spending hours and completing the same amount of work.

One common problem people have when completing their goals is setting unrealistic goals with no ideal path to accomplish them. A way to combat this problem is to set smaller goals that take a small step towards the larger picture. These smaller goals should be more attainable and reasonable to measure for progress.

For example:

Big Goal: I want to be more fit, physically active, and healthy.

Smaller Goal: I will work out at the UMSL Recreational Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Smaller Goal: I will plan out my lunches on the weekend and make them the day before I need them to help me plan and stick to a better diet.

A method that has helped me stick to my goals is to map out time in the day for when I will complete my smaller goals. I will constrict what day and time I have for certain events such as homework, class, volunteering, and etc. This allows me to control how I manage my time while also making sure I stick my schedule. I can clearly estimate how well I was able to keep up with my goals and where I might need to adjust my schedule to help make more progress towards my goals.

I hope this helps in your future endeavors.

Negrophilia: A Damon Davis Exhibit You Can't Miss at Gallery 210

By Brock Seals

Damon Davis is an Emmy award-winning artist/filmmaker and musician from East Saint Louis. He co-directed “Whose Streets,” a documentary centered on the uprisings in Ferguson post-Michael Brown’s death. I remember walking through the Delmar loop during the premiere of his film. The line to get in stretched an entire block. Critics raved about the perspective that it captured. The film was later purchased by Magnolia Pictures for a theatrical release.

Soon after, I attended his "Darker Gods" exhibition held at the Luminary. Gallery walls were filled with every aspect by Davis. Sculptures, paintings, photography, music, and video. It's like you were walking through a page of Davis' mind. Earlier that day Davis released his album, which was also titled Darker Gods. “Davis crafts a sonic landscape that welcomes us to a new world of Black Gods and Goddesses”. 

The album was also accompanied by exciting visuals by Ryan Frank. His video for "Light Years" featuring Tonia recently won Best Video at this year’s SLUM fest awards. This Afro Futuristic body of work was a success for Davis as it traveled from Saint Louis to Miami for a special Art Basel exhibit. Being an artist of multi mediums, I always admire how one can compile their thoughts and express them in different forms. Davis is a pro at expressing himself seamlessly from one media to another.

Once I got news that Damon Davis would be exhibiting work at Gallery 210 at UMSL, I was ecstatic. Being a gallery assistant at Gallery 210 means that I prepare and hang the work that's exhibited. I knew that this would be a great opportunity to learn more about his work. 

Damon delivered over 100 original mixed media works of art to the gallery. The “Negrophilia” exhibit was unique in the sense of presentation. Unlike your traditional white gallery walls, this exhibit features a ‘red’ room and a ‘black’ room, which complement his art and give them a strong background. 

“Davis’ work addresses the complexities of how protest, pain, and reflection merge together.” It’s inspirational to see an artist of similar backgrounds gain such success. His talent and professionalism are one to follow. This exhibition will be on display until May 11, 2019. Stop by @Gallery210 Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Brain Stew: UMSL’s Most Underrated Publication

by Raghd Alyatim

UMSL’s campus is vast and has many ways to become involved.

What many people don’t know is
that besides “The Current,” UMSL has another publication, “Brain Stew.” “Brain Stew” is not your average publication. It is an uncensored, freethought, and commentary publication headed by the Pierre Laclede Honors College. The best part? Anyone can submit. Even you! “Brain Stew” features many different categories, such as the understew (opinion section), meme corner, music reviews, poems, mad libs, short stories, event ads, comedy, and fiction! You name it, it is probably there. I reached out to the editors, Anthony Deluvia and Nicole Gevers, to help me describe “Brain Stew:”

“We are very excited for the future of 'Brain Stew.' The past editors and contributors have set us up for success, but we want to carry that success to a new level. We might be small, but 14 issues a semester with an average of 15 pages per issue is an impressive feat we want to boast at NCHC. Keep on the lookout for more great things (and awards).”

- Anthony Deluvia

“While 'Brain Stew' typically takes on a quirky and humorous tone, we encourage people to submit all types of work - poetry, photography, short stories, op-eds, drawing, or literally anything else they

can think of. I think the diversity in the types of works we receive, and our style of publication is very unique and makes 'Brain Stew' something that a wide audience, even outside of the Honors College, can enjoy and be a part of. It's awesome to talk with people who enjoy and look forward to new issues of 'Brain Stew' and want to be a part of the publication. It really makes being an editor a rewarding and fun role to be in.”

- Nicole Gevers

It was nationally recognized as best newsletter in 2017 and 2018 by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). “Brain Stew” has been a long-standing Honors College tradition and I hope it continues to be so. I have read “Brain Stew” for almost two years now, and it continues to put a smile on my face to this day.

My UMSL Ambassador Journey

by Awa Konte

To be an UMSL Ambassador means more than wearing a red vest, being welcoming and attending our required events. To me, being an ambassador means building true relationships, furthering my leadership abilities and, most of all, getting to become the person I was meant to be. As cliché as it sounds, I am definitely a believer of the idea that if something is meant to be, it’ll happen; and, if not, then move on as there’s no use in crying over spilled milk.

This semester was filled with more opportunities than I could’ve possibly imagined, and I would like to speak about two of them. Right before the semester began, I was offered the opportunity to become a Lead as part of the UMSL Ambassador program. I was so excited to have been given this opportunity, but I was also hesitant because l am the person that usually stays in the background. The idea of being in the background may clash with those who see leadership as something that is out there for all to see; but for me, this is a part of who I am. I’ve had to grow into being comfortable with it because people left and right told me that I wasn’t a leader but a follower. I was more sensitive back then and cared more about what people said about me; but I have learned over the years that those ideas don’t really matter since this is my story and not theirs.

Even with the growth I’ve had over the course of my campus involvement experience, I knew that I had to come out of the so-called comfort zone that I created for myself. Throughout the semester, I was able to head the media/blog committee with my lead-in-training, Yazan. Although, I have been in the program for 3 years, there were still new experiences to be had.

Coincidentally, the same time I became a Lead, I was also given the opportunity to become a nanny. Just as I’ve had to grow as an ambassador and now Lead, this position has helped me improve my ability to balance professionalism with sociability, communication and, most of all, my ability to lead. Similar to my being a Lead, I’ve had to grow in my abilities to address a group and help those within that group strengthen their abilities. Although, one continues their educational journeys and the other is just starting, I am glad that I was given the opportunity to be able to engage both groups in their current journeys of life.

How to Prepare Yourself for Final Exam Week

by Yazan Alkharabsheh

Since we are approaching the end of the semester and are facing an incoming wave of final exams, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to motivate and give advice for success.

It is imperative in logic that any student at any stage of study may face some difficulties. It is important to realize that there is no justification or need to exaggerate these difficulties and to allow them to be invoked as a handicap that

could limit a student’s vitality, activity, and self-confidence in being successful. It is natural for any student who has spent their whole semester making a great effort to prepare for exams to be afraid and worried about their effort. This fear is normal, provided it’s used as a motivator to study and do well on exams.

Here is some advice to enhance the ability of students to study and navigate future tasks successfully. Try to get to sleep early the day before each exam. Studying late at night can reduce a student’s capacity to retain information, and that lack of sleep reduces the ability to think and work the next morning. ‏The body needs a number ranging from 6-8 hours to rest and sleep. Every student should prioritize these hours at the front of the night and come back to wake up early around sunrise. Waking up early to study is essential since the brain is the most productive and capable of absorbing information. Also, it is important to make meals light and healthy by eating more vegetables and fresh fruits. Additionally, make sure to stay away from the habit of lying on a seat and raising your feet, or stretching out comfortably in bed while studying, since this may lower your capacity to study. So, try to sit in front of a desk with your feet fixed on the ground. Most importantly, keep away from overusing any substances such as coffee to increase hours of vigilance. Substances of this kind after a period of use, reduce concentration during studying and during the process of exam taking. When studying for exams, read notes and lectures carefully and summarize readings. It is also extremely helpful to make study guides and visual aids to help review and memorize.

Every student must know that failure to achieve a certain grade in the past is not the end of the world. There is always a good side to learn from for every failure. Try to learn from past failures and improve your selves as students to do the best you could possibly do and achieve your goals. Life is like a glass of water, it can be half full and half empty. Our job is to use our experience from failure to fill that empty half of the glass with new successes.

I am confident that UMSL ambassadors are able to accomplish any task if they put their minds to it. The fact that you are all UMSL ambassadors means that you are successful students who are capable of great accomplishments. I truly believe that you will all do great. So, work hard and fill that empty half of the glass to the brim.

UMSL's Pre-Dental Society

by Sinhareeb Al Oleiwi

Hello, my name is Sinhareeb Al Oleiwi and I am an undergraduate student majoring in biochemistry and biotechnology with an emphasis in pre-dental. As a pre-dental student, I wanted to develop my communication, professional, and leadership skills, so I decided to be part of the UMSL Ambassador family.

Around that same time, I also wanted to further develop the specific skill set that related to the healthcare field and further my abilities that will aid me as a future health care provider; therefore I chose to join the Pre-Dental Society. It is very helpful for any pre-professional students to explore the field and get involved with a network of other students with similar goals and career paths. The Pre-Dental Society is one of the most active pre-health organizations on campus and part of the beautiful UMSL family.

Through this society, students like myself get involved in different activities,

such as volunteer opportunities and community service. We don’t benefit at the academic level, but we get to explore the dentistry profession and build friendships with the other members, which encourages personal and professional growth. By building close friendships with other students at UMSL who might possibly end up as classmates at same dental school or even as colleagues at the same dental clinic after graduation, we gain more than what’s advertised.

In general, it is very important for students to get involved in different activities to shape their college experience and prepare them to the outside world. Dental schools are getting more and more competitive every year; therefore, getting involved in different organizations on campus will give students more advantage because health careers require more than just book smarts. Since the system is in constant motion, it needs a person who is involved in the community and willing to help others.

The Pre-Dental Society does several community services and volunteer activities each month. Of the different activities, the most interesting was the one we did last month, which involved helping kids have a bright healthy smile. Over ten members of Pre-Dental Society volunteered at ‘Give Kids A Smile (GKAS),’ which is a nonprofit organization that provides quality dental services for under-served children. It is a two-day-a-week clinic which provides free dental services for kids under 14 years old.

Monthly Meeting Teaches Effective Communication Skills

by Shyanne Closser

On Friday November 2nd, the UMSL Ambassadors attended their mandatory monthly meeting. Last month, Camila highlighted the ambassadors’ monthly meeting, and now we have the chance to hear from Shyanne about the skills she gained and the excitement she had knowing she could take something away from the meeting.

The meeting began with guest speaker Sarah Benkendorf from UMSL Counseling Services. She led a presentation based around the idea of effective communication and how it could be used to relay an individual’s needs or wants; or at least to allow them to be acknowledged by whomever they are speaking to. This ability is so important when it comes to building healthy relationships as there are circumstances where we may need to negotiate or discuss matters with civility, and having good communication skills will benefit all parties involved.

Sarah also discussed the idea of lying to ourselves as a mechanism to alter the way we feel and behave during conversation, such as “I will be so upset if he/she says no to me.” In reality, we must understand that not every person in our life right now will be in our life forever, so giving others that power is not beneficial to us. To end it, we were led into a short meditation session to help ease our minds of the stresses we feel in our day to day.

Before we transitioned into the final session of the meeting, we played some games. The first game should sound familiar since we played it at the last meeting; we partnered with someone we didn’t know and taught them something new. I taught Awa about the four different tissue types that are found in the body. She then taught me what “chunking” was and how it can be done with worms. The process is as easy as it sounds: you take a chunk from one plate that already contains worms and move them to a different plate that has E.coli and it’ll grow.

We then broke out into our three committees (social media, research, and media/blog) to play two more games. The first game we played was a campus map game. Each group got a map of North and South Campus, and we had to remember as much as we could in three minutes. My group split up the campuses, so half of us looked at South Campus and the other half looked at North Campus. Once the three minutes were up, we were given blank versions of the maps to fill in from memory. Knowing UMSL’s campus is helpful as ambassadors because we need to be able to efficiently direct people around our campus.

In the last part of our meeting, we played a second game in our groups which tested our ability to remember faces; but not just anyone’s face. We learned about individuals we may interact with on more than one occasion, such as the deans of each college, executive events staff, etc. We again had to remember as many people on the list as we could in three minutes. My team utilized the same strategy used previously of splitting up into halves. After three minutes went by, we were again given a blank version of the list and had to fill in as many names as we could from memory. Overall, the meeting was informational and enjoyable as always. I definitely walked away knowing more faces than before.

Liah’s Transition to UMSL

by Liah Watson & Awa Konte

This week we are highlighting yet another ambassador: Liah Watson. Liah is a transfer student from Missouri Western State University. Since her transfer to the UMSL campus, there are just a few things that she wanted to share in terms of her transition to UMSL and her involvement with the UMSL Ambassadors program:

Hello everyone, my name is Liah Watson and I am a freshman transfer student from Missouri Western State University. I’ve been at UMSL for almost one semester now, and I can honestly say I feel like I am part of the UMSL

community. Truth be told, I was a bit nervous about the transfer since I didn’t really know anyone and everything was so new. But ever since I got my foot in the door, I saw the variety of opportunities that UMSL has to offer - one example being the UMSL Ambassador Program. 

For me, the ambassador program has given me so many experiences I can’t imagine being without. I had the opportunity to network with students and professionals alike at this year’s Founders Dinner, and I’ve attended a workshop that strengthened my basic abilities in interviewing. But one of the most important statements I can make is that I've made friends, not acquaintances. There is just so much that I want to say about it, but that would require another blog post!

One of the perks of being a student is that I get the opportunity to fully interact with the faculty and staff here. The staff at UMSL have been wonderful, positive and so friendly. The professors are understanding and are willing to work with you if you are having difficulty in the course. I already somewhat alluded to this, but transferring to UMSL has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Since I told you about how great UMSL has been, I would like to tell you what a typical Monday for me is like. Mondays start at 8:30 a.m. since I commute to campus. Class begins at 9:30 a.m. and when it ends at 10:45 a.m., I have a two-hour break before the next. I take this time to eat lunch, talk to classmates, and do some homework. Afterward, I head to my last class of the day, which I attend from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. Because I have some time before going to work around 4 p.m., I usually take a nap or go to my grandmother’s house to take care of her. 

The work day is long and usually ends around 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., which isn’t too bad but not exactly ideal either. I’ve learned to balance it with being involved and being a student throughout the semester as it has not always been easy. That’s all I have to say, so I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

Fall Break is Just Around the Corner

by Mohanned Aqrabawi

It is that time of year again: fall break is just around the corner. The time for Thanksgiving; the time for being thankful - thankful that there will be no more 8 a.m. classes for ten days, thankful for no more driving for hours to go to one class, thankful for sleeping in on a Monday morning, and most importantly, thankful for not staying up on a Tuesday night to finish an essay. 

Most of us consider this time to be for relaxation and releasing mental stresses by taking a short break from school. However, as much as I would love to do nothing during those ten days, most of our professors do not see this break in the same way. For them, this is the time of the semester we can use to finish big assignments, get back on track for the semester, and prepare ourselves for finals week. 

You may have noticed that most of your assignments or exams are due directly after fall break. If you think about it, we would only have three weeks for school including finals week left before our winter break. As much as I want to just stop studying, I think this week is very valuable in our semester. 

In ten days we can accomplish a lot for our classes, and I would advise everyone to study - even just a little every day - because at this point the semester is almost over, and this is the only free time available to us to prepare for our finals. I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving and can work hard to get the grades you aspire to have this semester.

Life at Oak Hall from an Ambassador's Point of View

by Emma Melton

College is so exciting - a new start in what seems like a world of opportunity; yet, it can be very scary for any incoming freshman. What's a better way to get involved your first few years of college than by living on campus?! Themed living communities, helpful staff, and many events throughout the year not only make living in Oak Hall fun, but also a very rewarding experience. Specifically, living 

on campus as a freshman allows one to get to know other classmates, which makes the transition into college much easier and a lot more fun. According to a recent study conducted by the ISU Residential Housing Department, freshmen who lived on campus during the first year of college at Iowa State had a higher graduation rate compared with those who did not. This shows that living on campus your first year is beneficial because students feel connected to the university, becoming more engaged academically and personally. Read more to find out why living in Oak Hall truly is the “Suite Life.”

Getting Connected at Oak

Living in Oak Hall comes with many amenities, but the event programming hosted by several organizations and teams may be the sweetest benefit for everyone. From late night bingo to a hypnotist performance, there are events for everyone to find enjoyment in. While Oak Hall hosts so many events to take students’ mind off their busy schedules, there are also several programs that promote students’ success and involvement. Living on campus is so much more than just a quicker way to class; it’s a way for one to get involved and meet all kinds of new people, all while having fun!

What UMSL Ambassadors are Saying

“As a transfer sophomore student, choosing to live on 

campus - specifically in Oak Hall - was the greatest choice for me. It makes the transition to a new college easier because you have the chance to meet so many people. Living in Oak opens students to many opportunities. For me, I was introduced to the UMSL Ambassador program when I discovered flyers and brochures that stated, ‘We want you to be an Ambassador” at the Oak front desk and lobby area. If I had not seen the flyers, I may have not pursued being an Ambassador for the university and in turn, this blog would not exist. My journey so far at UMSL wouldn’t be as enjoyable if I had not chosen to live in Oak Hall.” 

–Emma Melton

"I’ve lived in Oak for the majority of my college

experience. I discovered UMSL Ambassadors 3 years ago through flyers and brochures, but one of the reasons for joining was a fellow ambassador and friend encouraged me to join the program since I could see that she enjoyed it so much. I wanted to be involved, and Ambassadors was the first step for the many things that followed." 

-Awa Konte

Monthly Meeting Teaches Professional Development

by Camila Pena Rosell

On Friday, October 5th, we, the members of UMSL Ambassadors, had our second meeting of the year. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect because this would be the first meeting besides the introductory one, so I was really excited to get to see what the program really is about.

The meeting started with those who assisted with the Founders Dinner sharing their experience(s) at the event. This is one of two major events for the program other than commencement. For some of the ambassadors, this was their first event of the semester, so it was great to hear that they had such positive interactions with alumni – not only as a way to get know them as individuals, but also as a way to network.

After the stories and the laughter that came with it, we did an icebreaker activity where we had to find as many things in common as we could in our groups of three. I was put in a group with Shyanne and Abby, and we found ten things we had in common. However, we realized after finishing the activity that, while we thought about the specific things we had in common, we left out the general ones, such as we are all women. Even though we didn’t come up with the highest number of commonalities, it was a good way to get to know each other more.

Sharing stories and doing the icebreaker helped us loosen up before moving on to the main topic of the meeting: building basic skills for professional interviews. I found this very important because most of the time, we are not taught these skills, and we are sent into the workforce without knowing how to properly integrate ourselves. We were also given tips on how to create a resume and how to change that resume for the job we are applying for. I really appreciated learning all these things (I would assume all of us did) because we need to know them – not only for when we are looking for jobs, but for internships too.

We ended the meeting with another icebreaker. This time, we had to partner with someone we weren’t too familiar with and teach him/her something new. I partnered with Shyanne and taught her how to introduce herself in Spanish; and she taught me what the body systems are. You learn something new every day and, for us, that is definitely true!

Q&A with UMSL Ambassador Shyanne Closser

by Abby Weiskopf

Shyanne Closser

The UMSL Ambassadors is a unique and diverse group with many different and interesting members. One of the members is Shyanne Closser, an extremely hardworking and dedicated individual who has overcome many challenges since her arrival to UMSL. I sat down with her to learn more about why she chose this organization and how she is able to balance her many activities this semester.

Q: Why did you choose to join this organization over any other?

A: It seemed like a good opportunity to build my resume and build leadership skills. It provides a lot of benefits in terms of helping me build my public speaking and interview skills, which I will need to forward myself for the future.

Q: What is your favorite part of being an UMSL Ambassador thus far?

A: I really enjoy the diversity of the organization and how many new people I have already met in my short time with the Ambassadors. I didn’t realize how many different cultures and people we had on campus.

Q: Why did you come to UMSL? 

A: It had a good cost to education ratio. I really value the quality of education I am receiving compared to my student loans. Since coming to UMSL, I have realized that there is a really good support network here, and I think that’s really important.

Q: What have you struggled with and how have you overcome it?

A: When my parents divorced when I was twelve, my family completely split apart and that was really difficult for me. I had to grow up really quickly and that has impacted me until this day. I struggled with it through high school, but that didn’t stop me from joining extracurricular activities and maintaining a strong GPA so I could get into a good school.

Q: Since you’ve had that experience in your life, what advice would you give someone who's having a hard time in their life right now?

A: To anyone else that is going through a hard time, I would tell them that while everything may seem bleak right now, things will always get better.

Q&A with Arashi Cogan

by Awa Konte

UMSL is known for its diverse student population, which ranges from residential to commuters, young and old, parent and non-parent, etc.

I had the opportunity to interview Arashi Cogan, a senior history major whose anticipated graduation date is May 2019. Before UMSL, Arashi, attended St. Louis Community College (STLCC) for two years and was an active athlete in tennis - a sport he has played for ten years. 

Below is a brief interview with him:

Q: Why did you come to UMSL?

A: The connections I made at STLCC allowed me to have an easier path to transition into a four-year university like UMSL. Given they have a base at STLCC, it was easy to access information, such as which credits would transfer, financial aid, etc. I also decided to stop actively pursuing colleges based on their tennis team, which then gave more reason to look at schools that were in-state.

Q: Most students during their stay here try to join at least one organization on-campus, are you involved with any organization?

A: No, I do not have the time for extracurricular activities since I coach part-time for tennis on weekdays and weekends.

Q: What are your plans after UMSL?

A: I am planning on going to graduate school in Japan. I’ve had this goal for a while now, so the closer to graduation I get, the more realistic it becomes. I’ve moved back and forth between Japan and the U.S., so it won’t be that different from how I’ve lived the majority of my life. I also want to improve my Japanese as well.

Q: As with any interview, I have to ask the classic question that everyone gets: if you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
A: I would honestly just tell myself to go outside of my comfort zone. There were a lot of opportunities I passed up that would’ve definitely changed my college experience if I had taken them.

Looking to Get Involved? THIS is a Great Way!

It’s that time of year again, where students begin to fill the hallways and sidewalks of campus navigating their new class schedules and meeting new friends. With all of the excitement and buzz, a lot of students are looking for ways to get involved at UMSL and within the community. We have JUST the opportunity for you!

The UMSL Ambassador program is an award-winning volunteer organization at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Ambassadors are current students who want to represent the university, gain professional and leadership skills, and interact with community and university leaders. Ambassadors have the opportunity to meet students, staff and faculty from all over campus as well as prominent community leaders and alumi.

Ambassadors volunteer for three events during the semester as well as two fall and three spring commencement ceremonies (unless it’s their own graduation weekend). Monthly meetings are held with workshops for professional development, such as resume building, interview skills and networking.

Any student - from incoming freshmen to graduate level - who meets the minimum requirements is encouraged to apply by September 7, 2018 at 3 p.m.

The program gives students the opportunity to learn about the organization and the community, and to gain valuable skills which can be used throughout the remainder of their careers.

To learn more about the program, visit our webpage at umsl.edu/ambassadors and feel free to email umslambassdors@umsl.edu with any questions.

Easing Finals Stress at Mirth Week

by Michaela Browne

One of the most stressful weeks of every student’s semester at UMSL, and every other college, is quickly approaching: finals week. There are so many emotions towards the end of the semester. From crying to laughing to stressing out and/or pulling an all nighter, it is what finals week is made of. It is excitement because summer break is coming, but overwhelming because of all of the studying and homework due before then. Also, those who are part of the UMSL
ambassadors have to look forward to working at graduation coming up.

To ease these pre-final jitters, Mirth Week was celebrated this past week at UMSL. One of the most exciting events to attend is the Mirth Week carnival, which consisted of games, prizes, food, and rides, and best of all- it was all free. The rides are exactly what is needed to let out some tension with a few screams while you are spinning or dropping. The stress relief is instant on the first drop on the Vortex ride or the first spin on the tornado. Additionally, there was cotton candy and a taco truck. But, the best part about the Mirth Week carnival is that everyone with you is going through the same situation, give or take, so you relate on a whole new level. I can especially empathize with my colleagues in the ambassadors program, who have worked extra hard in volunteering for events throughout the semester. It was a delight to hang out with and see some of the friends that I have had the pleasure of being in ambassadors with at the carnival.

I would like to take an opportunity to encourage all of my fellow ambassadors and students through these last days of the semester. Do the best you can, because that’s all you can do. There is no need to panic or give up.

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” -Michael Jordan. We are almost done!

Interview Skills

by: Jonathan Klunk

During the monthly meeting for April, the Ambassadors received beneficial, worthwhile information with respect to interviewing skills. In a workshop presented by Career Services at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, we determined how to effectively answer interview questions by identifying our competencies and strengths. We learned to prepare appropriate questions to ask employers at the conclusion of the interview as well. We also considered the importance of dressing professionally and demonstrating proper nonverbal communication qualities, such as making eye contact and facial expressions, maintaining good posture, and giving a firm handshake. Lastly, we evaluated the significance of thank you notes in order to remind the interviewer of one’s interest and qualifications for the position and express gratitude for his or her time and attention. With this newfound knowledge, the Ambassadors will be able to ace their interviews in the future and leave a lasting impression with the interviewer!

Using Your Privilege for Good

by Sydni Jackson

During our Ambassador Monthly Meeting in March we learned about using our privilege for good with Dr. Laura Holt from UMSL Counseling Services. We did an exercise to demonstrate privilege. In this exercise, some students were given masks to wear while the entire group was presented a problem to solve. Students with masks could only speak to the group to help solve the problem if they were told they could speak by someone else without a mask. After the exercise the people with the masks shared how it felt to have to be given

permission to speak. This exercise demonstrates that many times in our society some voices are valued over others. It is the responsibility of those (who by no fault of their own) may have more privilege than others to look out for others and make sure they are given spaces for their voices to be heard.

Having privilege does not make anyone a bad person and if someone is privileged it does not mean that their life will come without hardships. There are many different things in life that can make someone more privileged than others, and those things go beyond race, sexuality, and gender.

UMSL Counseling Services has a Social Justice Library on their website. It has articles and videos that deal with different aspects of privilege. You can further explore the topic of privilege and social justice on their website at www.umsl.edu/services/counser/SocialJustice.html

A Women's World

by Michaela Browne

Thursday, March 8, was an important day. It was a day of celebration of the strongest people on earth: women. This day is called International Women’s Day. It is a wonderful day of gratitude to all the women in our lives that help shape the world around us. It is a look back at the accomplishments that women have made throughout history.

I recently had the opportunity to volunteer for a speaker series event with Tessa Trelz on March 15, a week after International Women’s Day. Tessa is an attorney at Armstrong Teasdale. Tessa talked about inspirational women, how there is a silver lining in situations when life knocks us down, and how not to be afraid to seize opportunities when they arise. One of Tessa’s personal stories was that she was waitlisted for law school at Wash U and decided to go to SLU. Although at the time, she saw this as a bad thing, it ended up being good because she met her husband there. She mentioned inspiring women such as her mother, Sandra Day O’Conner, Madam C. J. Walker, and Elizabeth Warren, and how these women were able to claw and fight their way through adversity and obstacles that would detour many from achieving their goals. However, in doing so, they overcame with remarkable success stories. Her eloquent speech reminded all of us that everyone, including these wonderful women, have an element of self-doubt, which can be overcome through perseverance.

I am surrounded by inspirational women in my life including women in my family like my mom, women I have met through Ambassadors like Amy Beaman, Coordinator of University Events, Amanda Wilens, Manager of University Events, and Tessa Trelz, as well as some amazing professors, and so many more. I look up to all of these women and their accomplishments. I am grateful to be a part of speaker events like Tessa’s where women are praised and remembered.

It is important to let the women around you know how appreciated they are, not only on International Women’s Day, but when any opportunity arises. Today, I would like to thank the women in my life for inspiring me every day. I challenge everyone reading this to thank a woman in their life.