Student Support Tips for the Semester

Amanda Clark, Jessica Lee and Pippin Chapman

Now that everyone is settling into the fall semester, the workload will only increase until winter break.  All of this college work can be really stressful to manage by yourself, especially if you don’t have a support system or group.  Here are a few tips about forming your support system to get you through school:

1    1.) Get to know some of your classmates.

Even if you aren’t real “friends,” the connections you make with your classmates will help you get through the class.  Together, you can remind each other of upcoming due dates, grade accountability and help each other with classwork.  Make a group chat so you can communicate with each other wherever, whenever.  “Don’t be afraid to exchange numbers with other students,” said freshman Jessica Lee.  And who knows?  You might end up with a new friend.  Freshman Amanda Clark says, “Form relationships with other students early in the semester.  These relationships will turn into study groups,” which perfectly leads into the next tip.

2    2.) Create a study group.

Study groups can be very beneficial if they are small, about four people at most.  This way, there are enough people to offer different perspectives and ways of understanding things.  Smaller groups also have less of a chance of becoming distracted, whereas with bigger groups, it can be a lot easier to lose focus.  “Forming a study group with a few other students will help you keep up to speed on studying, and it can help boost your spirits when things are challenging,” said non-degree student Pippin Chapman.

3    3.) Join the Vol State Student Discussion on Facebook.

This is a discussion page where any Vol State students can ask questions about classes, share information and engage with each other.  It’s also another way for you to make personal connections with other students.  To join, make sure you’re following the Vol State Facebook page, then click on the "Groups" tab on the left-hand side.

Good luck with the rest of the semester.  We can do it!

-Gloria Cortes

Volunteer Fair this Saturday, September 14

Find a volunteer location to earn your TN Promise community service hours...or serve for the joy of it. The Volunteer Fair at Vol State will feature 20 local nonprofit groups on Saturday, September 14. It's organized by the One Community Sumner County library collaborative- a partnership between the public libraries of Sumner County, Sumner County Schools, and Vol State’s Thigpen Library.

Held in the Wood Campus Center on the Gallatin campus at 1480 Nashville Pike from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be free snacks and giveaways at the event. For more information call 615-230-3400.

Student Spotlight- Sabrina Schuessler

A physical embodiment of the phrase, “An open heart is an open mind,” sophomore Sabrina Schuessler is majoring in early childhood development and trying to better Vol State.

While she said that she thoroughly enjoys working with children, she also wants to go into early childhood development for family reasons. 

“My little brother is severely autistic.  He is nonverbal as well, and I want to help children like him,” said Schuessler, “I want to help kids feel like they have a purpose when they don’t know where they belong or say, ‘I can’t do it.’  I want to have that little bit of light that gives them confidence.”

She’s currently working as a teacher’s assistant at Primrose, a private daycare for children from six weeks to five-years-old.  “If they need tissues, paper towels or crayons, I go get them.  It’s a fun little job where I get to work with children, and they can hug and attack me,” said Schuessler.

On top of dealing with her job and school work, Schuessler has a speech impediment, dyslexia, insomnia, and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

“For assignments, what takes people an hour or two takes me longer because I have to think of it more.  But if I could live a life without them, I think I wouldn’t, because they define who I am.  They make Sabrina, Sabrina.  Without them, I wouldn’t be me.”

When she isn’t working, spending time with her family or attending classes, Schuessler is an active member of the Vol State community.  She is a student representative of the Future Educators’ Club for the Student Government Association (SGA), and was previously a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. 

“[The Future Educators’ Club] doesn’t just work with kids, and we’re not just babysitters.  Our job is to shape the model of the brain and get them prepared for life….  Right now we’re a small club- we just started last year,” said Schuessler, “but hopefully we can build our way up.  We’re looking for a president and vice president right now.” 

-Gloria Cortes

Student Spotlight: Taylor Evans

Ever wonder who the man behind the mascot really is?  Well in this case, it’s a woman.  One of the people behind Vol State’s Patch the Pioneer is sophomore Taylor Evans.

One would think school spirit is a requirement for a mascot; however, Evans wasn’t really involved in the Vol State community until this year, but now she’s made a new home for herself at school.

“I got an email saying something like, ‘You want free books?’ and I said, ‘Yes, please!’  Then, I found out that in order to receive free books, I would have to help out with student leadership and be a mascot,” said Evans, “I haven’t done any ‘mascotting’ yet…. There’s four of us and we’re going to split the dates [for school events]…. I’m nervous, but excited.”

To find another fun way to participate at Vol State, Evans signed up for Camp PIO, which is a day camp that focuses on teambuilding games and getting to know other Vol State students.

Evans has always lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee.  She graduated from Hendersonville High School, and enrolled at Vol State to major in psychology.

“Once I started taking actual psychology courses, I grew to really enjoy it.  I like the idea of identifying a problem and finding different kinds of solutions to fix it, or coping mechanisms,” said Evans, “It’s also challenging, but there are a lot of things I can do with a [degree in psychology].”

Although she would prefer to go to school a lot further from home, she plans to attend University of Tennessee- Chattanooga for her bachelor degree, and then move out-of-state for a master’s degree.

“I wasn’t very excited about coming here, truly because it’s still living at home, it’s 15 minutes from my house, but it’s provided a lot of experiences that I didn’t really expect to get,” said Evans, “This past spring break, I went to India for the Study Abroad trip and ended up loving it.  I’m really excited for this year.”

-Gloria Cortes

Study Abroad Info Sessions

Interested in traveling to another country to study next spring? These Study Abroad info sessions are mandatory for students who want to apply. They will have all the info and a list of possible countries. It's an amazing experience and you can apply for scholarships to cover some of the cost.

Gallatin Campus Sept., 9, 10, 11 and 12

2:15-3:30 Mon-Thurs in Caudill 102

Sept 26th Livingston campus 9 am- 11

Sept 26th Cookeville campus 12-2 p.m. Cody Hall

Oct. 2 Highland Crest 10 a.m. to noon front desk

Oct. 3 Cookeville campus 11 to 12 p.m. Cody Hall

Events for the Week of September 9

Sept. 9                                  Trevecca University representative, Wood Campus Center main hallway, 11 am – 2 pm
Sept. 9                                  The First Generation College Experience, Frank Dobson discussion, Nichols Dining B, 11:30am-1pm

Sept. 10                                Campus and Community Safety Fair, CHEC Atrium, 10am-1pm

Sept. 10                                Cumberland University representative, Wood Campus Center main hallway, 11 am - 1 pm
Sept. 10                                Break the Silence, suicide awareness, Duffer Plaza, 12pm-1pm

Sept. 11                                9/11 Remembrance, Library Lawn, moment of silence, 8:35am
Sept. 11                Austin Peay State University representative, Wood Campus Center main hallway, 10 am – 2 pm

Sept. 11                                Campus Resource Fair, clubs and organizations for students, free lunch, Nichols Dining B, 11am-1pm
Sept. 12                Belmont University representative, Wood Campus Center main hallway, 11 am – 2 pm

Sept. 12                                Campus Safety Day, texting and driving simulator, free food, Wood Parking Lot, 11am-1:30pm

Sept. 12                                Study Abroad Info Session, all students welcome, Caudill Room 102, 2:15-3:15pm

Sept. 12                                Sumner County College Night, 70 colleges and universities on hand, Pickel Field House, 6pm

Sept. 14                                Volunteer Fair, opportunities for community service, Nichols Dining, 
10am-2pm

Events this Week at Vol State

Sept. 3 and 5        Student Club Rush Week, learning about clubs, Nichols Dining Room B, 11:30am-1pm

Sept. 4                  Campus Resource Fair, resources for students, clubs and organizations, Nichols Dining B, 11:30am-1pm

Sept. 7                  Adult Learner Study Sessions with Kids, bring your kids to the library while you study, kids must stay with you at all times, Thigpen Library – Gallatin, Each Saturday 8:30am-3:30pm and Monday and Tuesday 4pm-8pm when classes are in session.