Student Spotlight - Mindy Dilley

Mindy discussed the change in communication with her parents during college. It is her own opinion of her relationship with her parents and is not necessarily the typical representation of our student population. It is through this Spotlight that we aim to shed light on the differences that many of our students have in family contact.

The relationship with my family has actually been strengthened since I have been at Missouri State. My freshman year was a big transition for me. My parents had a tough time with this and would constantly call and email me. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk to them; I just really needed this time to grown as an individual on my own. They didn't really understand this, so that first year was kind of rough for us. Once my parents realized that this was crucial time for me to be my own person and find my own way in life things began to smooth out.

Being on the Family Weekend Planning Committee also was a great experience for me to understand the "parent" side of coming to college. It helped me appreciate the effort my parents had made to make my college experience the best it could be. Having your family's support is the greatest encouragement to succeed in college. Without this any student is at a strong disadvantage.

I personally have had to face many academic challenges while in college. I know for a fact that without my family being there for me, and being understanding then I would have never been able to face these challenges and continue with my college education. Families need to understand that sometimes having a hard time with things make you a stronger person. Just remember to be there for your student and help them by giving them your full hearted support.