Farewell, UM-Flint
It’s been more than a week and it still hasn’t really sunk in that I’m a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint.
Graduation was such a surreal experience for me. It never really hit me that I was sitting on stage with faculty and staff of the university, prepared to make a speech in front of 365 of my classmates and their closest friends and family members. Not while standing in wait in the basement of the Perani, not while everyone was processing in to the arena. It finally sunk in when the chancellor approached the podium and said that she was going to introduce me as the student speaker. In that moment, everything kind of slowed down, marking the fact that this was the culmination of the last four years – me walking up to the stage to deliver my speech. I have to say, it was really an incredible moment, one that I surprisingly wasn’t nervous for. Once she called my name, it all just kind of happened. I got up, delivered my speech, and moments later I received my diploma. That was it – commencement complete. As quick as it felt, I’ll never forget it.
It’s crazy to think that all that I’ve done at UM-Flint is over, which is why I’m choosing to look at the move forward as an extension. My job in the Student Success Center is coming to a close, but I do get to work on campus through the summer and see UM-Flint’s first two-day, overnight orientation get off the ground. I’m looking forward to further pursuing my passion for new student programs as I begin Michigan State University’s Student Affairs Administration graduate program this fall (cue boos and hisses for mentioning Spartan territory).
As much as I’ll miss being a part of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) programming board, I’ll still get to see those activities happen, just from afar. CAB was my home away from home, and I met some of the most amazing people on campus through the organization. I really enjoyed being a part of something so awesome.
And as connected as I’ve gotten to the Flint community, I look forward to finding new service opportunities in and around East Lansing. I’m definitely going to miss volunteering with Outreach and participating in UM-Flint’s Alternative Spring Break.
My journey at UM-Flint has been an a-MAIZE-ing one–four years that I won’t soon forget, full of great times and great people. I’m thankful to all of the people who helped shaped my experience along the way. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the greatest professors during my time at the university, and my experience wouldn’t have been what it was without so many stupendous staff members. While I’m definitely going to miss all of the awesome people that I’ve gotten to know, I look forward to creating new memories and friendships throughout grad school.
Words can’t express how grateful I am for being a part of this university. Choosing to attend UM-Flint was one of the best decisions I’ve made, and although I may be going on to say “Go Green!,” my heart will always bleed maize and blue.
Enjoy your summer, folks, and GO BLUE!
