Twenty-nine Mizzou students journeyed to North Carolina over spring break with TRiO Student Support Services. Accompanied by advisors and staff, the students explored graduate schools and potential career paths.
TRiO SSS serves students who are first-generation college students, have a documented disability, or have financial need. The program is committed to supporting students academically and personally through their transition into college all the way through graduation.
With all expenses paid by TRiO SSS and donations, students flew from St. Louis Lambert International Airport and arrived in North Carolina. They received a generous donation that allowed them to buy suitcases and merch printed identifying them as members of “Mizzou TRiO SSS.”
The group also received luggage tags and pens donated by the Trulaske School of Business and free parking over spring break by Parking Services. Before their trip, students attended two workshops and individual follow-ups offered by the Career Center.
Taylor Stevenson is the Senior Student Service Coordinator for TRiO and served as staff on the trip. She recalled receiving lots of questions from strangers they came across at the airport or at a restaurant who commented on their matching shirts. Stevenson was glad to share TRiO’s purpose with them, and was even more excited to watch students participate in the conversations.
Each of the students received a journal to reflect on their experiences throughout the trip. Included were prompts written by Shannah Lewis, a TRiO academic advisor with the College of Health Sciences.
The journal entries from the first day showed a mix of excitement and exhaustion. For some students, this trip was their first time flying. One of the prompts asked students to decipher what the phrase, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey,” means to them. This is what student Ahmed Boucherih had to say:
“This is the phrase I live by every day. Especially when majoring in STEM the most important thing is not you landing a job […] or finishing school. (Yes, that is important) but the journey is the time of place where we make mistakes […] where we learn a lot about ourselves: who we really are, what interests us, and what can we provide for the future. This is all answered during our journey, really no matter how long it will take to finish your degree program or a project. The most important thing is what you have learned/gained during that process. That is what will be with you for the rest of your journey!”
Christabel John was one of the students who shared about her experiences traveling. She was 18 when she first traveled by herself, and since then, has been taking advantage of every opportunity to explore as much as she can. She expressed how grateful she is for the kind of exposure and experiences that come with traveling.
“Through all my travels,” she said, “I have learnt my limits, how far I can go and how far I should go. Leaving home was hard and I am grateful that I am able to go back home once a year to see my family. However, every time I go back, I am never the same as before. Travel has also made me realize how passionate I am about meeting new people, seeing new places and experiencing life!”
Their week was filled with campus visits, sightseeing, trips to the beach and theatre, and a game night. They toured the University of North Carolina in Wilmington and Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Duke University. At these different institutes, they explored different graduate and professional programs offered in fields including engineering, business, and medicine.
Students became more comfortable engaging in conversations and made it a priority to ask questions. They set personal, professional and academic goals for themselves throughout the trip. On top of connecting with peers and faculty, students learned a lot about themselves, their careers and graduate school. Some made the decision to change their previous career and education goals. Some built on connections. One of the students connected with Duke MBA, followed them on LinkedIn, and set up a future meeting with their program director.
Students challenged themselves by putting themselves out of their comfort zones. By the end, some described feeling less shy, more professional, confident, conversational, and relaxed. Friendships were formed, memories were made, connections were created, and growth was sparked.
“This trip tested me a lot,” Grace Eason, one of the students explained. “Going in, I knew no one and had no idea what to expect but since coming home I have found that my favorite memories have come from the people around me. Even when the days were really long and hard we all did it together.”
Mizzou TRiO plans to continue this program through the next five-year grant cycle, with the next trip taking place in New England.
While the spring break trip to North Carolina was only a week, the life lessons and experiences students took from it will likely stay with them for a long time. Janiya Boyd reflected in her journal about the trip’s impact on her outlook.
“I have learned thus far that everyone has different paths to their education journey,” Boyd said. “I make the mistake sometimes of comparing my journey to the ‘average’ person in my field because everyone’s circumstances are different. Speaking to the director of education showed me that you don’t have to pursue the career you got your undergrad in. Do the thing that makes you happy.”
