MUNCIE, Ind. — Students gathered by the scramble light last Wednesday to relieve some tension by smashing pumpkins. Student Success Coaches planned this event as a way to reach out to students and let them know their resources are available to them while also giving them a fun way to get rid of their stress.
The event had success coaches speaking to students about the reasons why they are stressed and how to manage it. They also provided small care packages and fall drinks. The organizer of the event, Char Hawkins, felt that this event was necessary during this time of year to let students know that they are not alone and that there are resources available to them on campus.
Hawkins said that this was an outreach event that gives them the opportunity to “Not only let students know what we do in our office, but really do a mid-semester check-in. We find that students who have a support system during this particular time tend to stay longer and we want them to finish the semester strong,” she said.
While informing students, the success coaches also wanted students to have fun and feel like they are building community at Ball State, and that the first fall semester is very important to support students.
“Students, especially freshmen, or in new semesters- every semester has a new challenge, no matter what year you are in school- and so with freshmen in particular, that transition into college can be really tough,” Hawkins expressed.
There are many different ways that student success coaches can help students with the many problems and challenges that they may face throughout the school year. Hawkins described that they help students by “teaching them some conflict resolution skills in those times as well. But anytime a student comes to us we really have them tell us what they wanna work on, what their goals are, and then we help find strategies for those goals.” Success coaching can be found online by searching success coaching. This will provide profiles for all their success coaches to find one that every student can feel comfortable with. They can also be found on the 3rd floor of the North Quad building in room 339, by phone at 765-285-1178, or by making an appointment through the Navigate app.
Contact Shaylee Milom with comments at Shaylee.milom@bsu.edu.
