And just like that, my time at UM-Flint has come to an end.
The journey that was 4.5 years in the making is officially over. Celebrating walking across the stage and receiving my diploma has made me feel very nostalgic, so I’m taking the opportunity to reflect on my journey at UM-Flint.
Freshman Year (2021-2022)
Before I officially started classes, I had set one goal for myself that I hoped to achieve at some point in college.
On August 15, 2021, I typed that goal into the notes app on my phone: To make the Dean’s List at least once during college.
My freshman year of college was spent taking classes from home because we were still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. During my first semester of freshman year, I lived by the motto “C’s get degrees.”
I struggled academically and made little effort. I consistently turned in assignments late or didn’t turn them in at all, which is why I ended that semester with two C+ grades.
One of my professors emailed me about my academic struggles in her class and said she was concerned that I might not pass the class because I was not applying myself. That lit a fire in me to do better in the following semester.
My second semester was a complete 180 from the first.
I applied myself more and started turning assignments in on time. I participated more in discussions and worked as hard as I could.
As a result of my change, I earned a spot on that semester’s Dean’s List. Achieving that goal so quickly made me feel incredibly proud of myself and helped me realize that putting in an effort makes such a difference.
I started to enjoy college, and I felt hopeful about the rest of my college experience.
Sophomore Year (2022-2023)
Going into my sophomore year, I was really nervous.
I was going to be on campus for the first time, and I felt a range of emotions. I had not attended an in-person class since my junior year of high school.
My first in-person class was Teamwork and Collaboration with Dr. Heather Seipke. I learned so much about working better with others and communicating effectively.
I also made some of my best friends in that class. Having the opportunity to learn in person and collaborate with my peers made me appreciate my education and the chance to meet new people.
During my sophomore year, my world was flipped upside down as well.
My father, Joseph, started experiencing various symptoms that he initially assumed were vertigo. However, after months of testing ordered by his doctors, including a brain scan, he received the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease at the beginning of the second semester of my sophomore year.
This diagnosis felt like a punch in the gut, and I was absolutely devastated. It may seem crazy, but watching my dad decline actually gave me more motivation to push myself academically and work as hard as I could since I did not want that to be one more thing my parents had to worry about.
All of the hard work paid off that semester, and I received a 4.0, or all A’s, and another spot on the Dean’s List. That made me feel so victorious, as though I had turned tragedy into triumph.
Junior Year (2023-2024)
If I am being honest, my junior year is a little bit of a blur.
I declared a minor in Early Childhood Education and learned how vital proper development is in a child’s early years.
I also took two Public Relations classes as part of my communications pathway requirements. Both of those classes were so much fun, and I gained a deeper understanding of just how crucial proper PR campaigns are for a brand.
During the first Public Relations class, we were split into groups and had to choose a brand’s PR campaign and analyze its effectiveness. I was lucky enough to be in a group with two of my best friends, Anna and Ray. The three of us decided to analyze the annual Spotify campaign, Wrapped. We had a blast researching the campaign and putting our presentation together. Ray was so creative and designed our PowerPoint slides to mimic the Wrapped campaign’s designs. Our classmates loved the presentation, and one of them even said we should send it to Spotify because it was so well designed.
In both semesters of junior year, I earned straight A’s, earned two more 4.0s, and earned additional spots on the Dean’s List.
Senior Year (2024-2025)
My senior year was unconventional compared to a typical one.
I have been a senior for three semesters, from the fall of 2024 to the fall of 2025. But senior year was probably my favorite year of college.
I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My diploma was within reach, and that motivated me more than ever. I also started taking more credits each semester to ensure I could complete my degree as quickly as possible.
During my first three years of college, I was taking 12 credits, the minimum required to be considered a full-time student. But in my final three semesters, I took 16 credits, which sounds daunting but was surprisingly doable.
During those three semesters, I began receiving more recognition for my academic performance. As a result of my outstanding work during the Fall 2024 semester, I was officially awarded University Honors during a ceremony in March of 2025.
I continued to make the Dean’s List each semester. I was also awarded honor cords to wear at graduation because of my cumulative grade point average.
Being able to not only reach the goal I set before entering college but also exceed my wildest academic dreams gave me confidence, and I was immensely proud of myself and how hard I pushed myself to earn my degree.
Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements
I am immensely grateful that I was able to attend college and meet people I may not have otherwise. I want to thank the people who had an impact on my time at UM-Flint.
First, I need to thank my parents for always believing in me and reminding me how proud they are of me. I strived every day to achieve academic success so they had one less thing to worry about.
I want to thank my professors for opening my eyes to various topics and for allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of how they can affect me and the world around me.
I want to thank my friends that I made along the way for making my journey so much more memorable and enjoyable. I am forever grateful for the connections I made with my peers, and I now have friendships that I hope will last a lifetime.
I want to thank Kat Oak, Audrey Scribner, and everyone in the CASE Dean’s Office, where I worked for the last two semesters of my college career. I especially want to thank Bretton Dennis and Jami Caulkins for enhancing my time in the office and for always being so kind every time we chatted.
I am excited for the next chapter of my life and look forward to applying what I learned from my experiences at UM-Flint to my future career endeavors.
Thank you, everyone. Go Blue!
