Student Perspectives: Support During Hardship

Student Perspectives: Support During Hardship

We are Lilly Baron and Elegy Garcia, the Marketing and Communications Interns this fall with the Advising Success Network (ASN).

Lilly supports ASN through social media analysis across our three major platforms, translating data into meaningful recommendations. She also leads resource repackaging strategies and testimonial outreach that highlight success within the ASN community.

Elegy is supporting the Services side of ASN by updating and refreshing internal communications templates, and working on this year’s Student Choice Awards case study collection. She occasionally works on social media posts as well.

This second post in our blog series explores the challenges we encountered throughout our higher education journeys and the resources we used to overcome them. These experiences strengthened our appreciation for the support available to higher education students, directly linking to ASN’s mission:

“To bring together students, faculty, advisors, and other student support staff to build cultures of care that support students in achieving their personal, academic, and career goals.”

We hope that as students read this blog series, they gain the confidence to reach out to support services and utilize the resources available to them. Just like we were supported in our higher education journeys, we want others to know that there are faculty members, advisors, and other support staff who want them to succeed. We also hope that practitioners will appreciate our perspective as students, especially as we discuss what we appreciated most about the support we received during difficult times in our education journeys. 

Persevering With Support: How Holistic Advising Helped Elegy

After graduating from community college, I thought I would be set up for success as I pursued my future degrees. Unfortunately, the pandemic made that difficult, but that turned out to be okay thanks to the help of the advising staff from Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) and the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Life doesn’t pause for classes, and sometimes, continuing your education means learning to take care of yourself and your loved ones along the way while utilizing the resources available to you.

The COVID pandemic not only changed the way I went through university, but also gave everyone around me a different perspective on the importance of family, health, and community. As a disabled student, my health has always been a factor in my approach to my education, but it also seemed like the pandemic made others realize how suddenly things can change when it comes to health. My advisors at OLLU worked with me to medically withdraw from classes for a semester, letting me know that a lot of students need help in many different ways, and that the medical withdrawal system is there to ensure that we can get back on track when things get more stable. 

What really made a difference for me was when I had to take a step back from school to help family members during the pandemic. Trying to attend classes while completing work-study shifts was difficult. Some things that helped me during this time were: 

• My program advisor helped me reach out to professors to explain my situation
• The disability office advising staff helped me process the paperwork to take a leave of absence
• All advisors reassured me, helped me create a return plan, and made sure I would remain eligible for my previous scholarships and grants

Through that guidance, I learned that stepping back isn’t the same as giving up. Colleges and universities have accommodations and medical leave procedures in place for a reason, and using these resources is not a sign of weakness; it’s part of managing your education in a sustainable way. Advisors are there to help you through these transitions—whether it’s a personal crisis, health issue, or family responsibilities, and students should know that they’re not alone in figuring things out.

My advice to other students is to communicate every step of the way. Talking to your advisors is extremely important, and being honest about your situation opens doors to resources you might not even know exist. When I was a student worker at UTSA, I helped connect students with resources like the on-campus food pantry, the military and veteran student office, and free mental health resources that they wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Everyone’s college path looks different, and that’s okay. With the right support, there’s no wrong way to keep moving forward.

From Seeking Help to Offering It: Lilly’s Appreciation for Resources and Community

Although I consider my college journey relatively easy in terms of hardships, I’ve come to realize that I have the privilege to call it “easy” because of the support I received during those struggles. From changing my minor to enrolling in tutoring for a class I was struggling in, I always felt supported—not just by my advisor, but also through the many resources available.

When I began college at Miami University (MU), I was enrolled in a fashion minor. However, after a few semesters and reflection, I realized my growing interest in digital marketing and decided I wanted to change my minor. As a sophomore, I had no idea where to start with this process, but after one simple meeting, not only did I officially make the switch, but I also walked away with a clear course plan outlining the classes I needed to take and when I should take them. As someone who values organization and planning, this level of support made a lasting impression. 

In the last blog, I mentioned being a first-generation college student and how I felt uncertainty during my first semester, but by the end of my freshman year, that uncertainty had transformed into confidence. Why? Because I had the support I needed, and I felt safe asking for it.

With this confidence in mind, when I became an Undergraduate Assistant for the first-year business course, BUS 106, in my sophomore year, I was motivated to offer the same support and resources to my peers. To do so, I created weekly office hour sessions on campus where students could ask questions, review class materials, or simply work alongside one another. This helped me build community and also made me realize my passion for helping others navigate their higher education journeys—a passion that led me to my current role supporting the Advising Success Network.

If I could offer advice to any student facing challenges in their college experience, it would be: 

• Use the resources available to you
• Don’t hesitate to ask for help
• Remember the strong community you’re a part of

Support Matters: A Reminder to Use Resources

As shown throughout both of our experiences and the support we received, communication and resources are the key to strengthening individual student journeys. Not only do we as individuals believe in this approach, but at ASN, we believe in holistic advising—an approach that considers the whole student, including their goals, identities, and experiences.

We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to ASN’s mission through this perspective and proud to apply our own experiences in ways that strengthen ASN’s mission and our shared commitment to student success. 

As we reflect on how support and resources shaped our higher education journeys, we encourage you to explore the many resources found on the ASN Resource Page designed to help students and practitioners thrive, just as we are.

Read the first blog in the series here.