Finding support in classmates, professors and success coaches

February 16, 2021 · 3 min read · By Lauren Dohr

ASU Online student and brand ambassador Lauren is using her experience as a student to shed some insight on ways she has found support at ASU Online.

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Finding support

A few of us have complained about discussion boards, but those can be a phenomenal way to build relationships with other students. For example, they can help you notice certain names that may be in your future courses. I’ve noticed in my Organizational Leadership (OGL) courses, when we recognize a name, a lot of us will mention it in an introduction post response. Use this opportunity to actually get to know your classmates and build a support system and community with them.

I used to strongly dislike team assignments after some previous experiences. I panicked after seeing the syllabus for two of my courses last semester because the Organizational Leadership courses that I selected leaned towards that collaboration. This included things like peer reviews, discussions, and team projects. I had somehow managed to pick a course in session A and session B that required a lot of teamwork. As nervous as I was, they turned out to be AMAZING courses, especially after my OGL professors Dr. Davis and Dr. B (Scholar) explained the importance of getting to know your team! Several of us still reach out because we built such a strong support system and a history of tackling assignments together!

For courses where you are more likely to have quizzes/exams, I suggest setting up virtual study groups to help build that support network. Do not be afraid to be honest and let classmates know what you are going through. Many times, another classmate will have a helpful idea that you may not have thought of, and that might even make you more willing to reciprocate that level of support down the road.

Finding support in professors can seem daunting when you do not get to see them face-to-face. Reach out via email! Join the professor’s office hours, especially if you’re having a difficult time understanding a concept. Join in if they have an open Zoom night - which is similar to a get-to-know-you session, but you get to go over assignment information. Don’t be afraid to let your professors know if you are going through something at home so they can help support you. I had an instructor who added mental health information into announcements early in the pandemic and instructed us to reach out if we were struggling, and that made all the difference.

Finding support in a success coach

Last, but definitely not least, ASU success coaches are an amazing support system. Make sure to reach out and schedule a time to chat! Mine is brilliant and last year gave me some great ideas on how to stay on track (shoutout to Elise!!). What if you’re not a phone person? No worries, you can find support via Slack or email. Success coaches also send out emails in intervals and many times they include additional resources or where to find them! Sometimes the conversation is as simple as a quick ‘Good Luck!,’ or other times it is more broad like a course registration schedule or links to study abroad information. All are small reminders that go a long way!

Good luck with this session, Sun Devils, and I hope these tips help you build your support network! You’ve got this!

We're so excited to share Lauren’s story! Lauren is a part of our #learnASUlive team, an ASU Online brand ambassador program highlighting students who are earning their degrees while living their lives to the fullest. If you enjoyed this, be sure to check back for new articles from Lauren so that you can follow along with her journey. To check out all her posts to date, visit Lauren’s Instagram!

Want to hear from our other ambassadors, too? Use the #learnASUlive hashtag across your favorite social channels to browse through them!


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About the author

Lauren Dohr is a brand ambassador from south Florida. She’s pursuing a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and a minor in history through ASU Online. 

We're so excited to share Lauren’s story! Lauren is a part of our #learnASUlive team, an ASU Online brand ambassador program highlighting students who are earning their degrees while living their lives to the fullest. If you enjoyed this, be sure to check back for new articles from Lauren so that you can follow along with her journey. To check out all her posts to date, visit Lauren’s Instagram!

Want to hear from our other ambassadors, too? Use the #learnASUlive hashtag across your favorite social channels to browse through them!

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