What makes a student special? Is it how much they contribute to the campus? Or is it how they change the environment around them in a classroom? A student can be considered special for many reasons, but Remy Xa takes being special to a new level.
Xa, a senior at UMSL, wears many hats on campus between working with UTV and leading the Pride Alliance as the sitting president, a position they’ve held since Fall 2023. Xa is currently a full-time student working on their bachelor’s in communication but sees a bigger picture post-graduation. They hope to continue to work for UMSL in a more official capacity, helping students as an Academic Advisor or LGBTQ+ and Diversity Programming Coordinator for a department like UMSL’s Office of Student Involvement Community and Belonging.
Xa came to UMSL as a transfer student from STLCC Meramec. When Remy was looking for a university, they wanted to pick one with the most diverse and accessible campus in St. Louis. After poking around the Office of Community and Belonging, they connected with the welcoming spirit of the UMSL student body. Remy felt a natural calling to UMSL, and what made UMSL more appealing to them was UMSL’s radio station that they worked on until November of 2024.
The Office of Student Involvement’s Penthouse, a lounge found on the 3rd floor of the Millennium Student Center, is Remy’s favorite room on campus. Yet, it doesn’t compare to Remy’s favorite spot on campus–The St. Louis Mercantile Library. Remy loves studying under the glass pyramid ceiling, where they find a sense of joy in studying under the beams of light from the glass pyramid structure.
Professors like Dr. Jason Vasser Elong have left an impression on Remy. Dr.Vasser, known by many students as “Dr. V,” boosted Remy’s confidence and inner strength with his nurturing, student-empowered teaching style. Dr.V encourages students to write for themselves, especially when they’re on a roll. As for Remy, they wish to inspire others by reminding them that not every offer is an opportunity. It’s important to say no sometimes so you’re not over-committing.
Motivation is hard to find when you’re a student as busy as Remy, but thinking of the people they’ll be helping serves as a constant reminder that we could all benefit from being in a gentler, more accepting world, a version of the future Remy hopes to bring to UMSL.
With time management skills constantly developing, Remy has found it easier to make a visual calendar to handle their busy schedule. The visual calendar keeps Remy in check, ensuring they have time for self-care. At 8 p.m. every night, Remy reserves the time for them to enjoy simple hobbies like listening to different genres of music across different periods of time.
Xa’s message for all incoming freshmen is to go at their own pace. Course correction happens, and everyone goes through it. It’s ok if things don’t go right the first time, and sometimes we don’t succeed. Xa emphasizes that asking for help isn’t something to be ashamed of; in fact, asking for help shows vulnerability, strength, humility and a willingness to learn and then grow.
UMSL has a good amount of resources to help students succeed, available to students on umsl.edu and TritonConnect, making Remy’s final remark, “it’s okay today, but one day, it will get better,” ring even more true than one would think.