This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mich chapter.
For the past three months my friends and I have been riding a rollercoaster of emotions we’ve felt towards the reality of change. After May 3rd, we’d all be part of the real world; a world bigger than the Big House, Thursday nights at Rick’s, part-time jobs, and semi-sprints across the Diag in our daily attempts to make it to class on time. After graduating from the campus that stole our hearts, we’ve all been forced upon the realization that life after Michigan does exist, and it’s both scary and refreshing. So, as Wolverines who will always find our way back hoMe, we’ve chosen to share a little bit of the afterlife with Her Campus, our favorite collegiette magazine that helped us out along the way.
Chloe Brown
BA in DAAS and Sociology
Future plans: Graduate school at UPenn while working for TFA
Greatest fear: “I fear failure. Michigan has taught me to take advantage of every opportunity I’m given, and that’s what I strive to do.”
Greatest aspiration: “I want to live up to my potential. I know there’s so much I can do, and I don’t ever want to be too afraid to do it.”
Her Campus: During your time at Michigan, what led you to choose your majors?
Chloe Brown: My community. To me there is nothing more important than helping those around you move forward. I wanted to show people that they can be whoever they choose to be, and that there are no limits to what they can do.
HC: What did you love most about your time at Michigan?
CB: The best part was having a family away from home. My friends became more than just companions; they truly became a second family, and being at the same school for four years with some of the people I love the most has been great. My second favorite thing was mentorship. I’ve been consistent in my role as a peer mentor, from serving as a Peer Advisor and Resident Advisor, to volunteering for other groups and organizations on campus that gave me the opportunity to form mentoring relationships. I love being able to give other students advise to help them avoid making mistakes I made, while also encouraging them to seize great opportunities I experienced. It’s a lot easier to move forward with someone there to help you out along the way.
Rebeca Maxon
BA in Organizational Studies with a Minor in Spanish
Future plans: Master of Arts in Educational Studies at the University of Michigan (MAC Program)
Greatest fear: “Letting life get in the way of my studies. I want to stay focused, to get where I want to be, and getting distracted along the way is my biggest fear.”
Greatest aspiration: “I want to be able to truly feel successful. To me that means two things: to change the world of academia, and to be able to give my mom whatever she wants. Being raised by a single mother in Detroit made me want those things. Without my education I wouldn’t be where I am today, and without my mom, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”
Her Campus: How did you choose your major and minor?
Rebeca Maxon: I wanted to do Organizational Studies because it introduced me to the business world. Most of my classes were on business networks and how organizations function. I’m most passionate about educational reform, and I’m confident that having a business mindset will help me achieve that. As for my minor in Spanish, as a Mexican American I wanted to study something that kept me connected to my Latino roots.
HC: You’ve finished four years here and now you’re coming back for another year. How does it feel?
RM: It feels great! I’m excited to be back on campus in the fall, even though things will be so much different. But I always knew I wanted to come to Michigan. It felt like home even when I visited for the first time when I was eight. I also wanted to experience a different world than the one I grew up in, and I had no doubts I’d get that here.
Jibreel Black
BA in General Studies
Future plans: Playing football at a higher level
Greatest fear: “Personal willpower takes you a long way, so it’s important not to get discouraged. Always trust God, and always stay positive; there’s nothing to fear as long as you remember that.”
Greatest aspiration: “I love football. Playing for Michigan these past four years has been a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a huge blessing. I’m ready to take my football career to the next level. That’s how I see myself living out my dream.”
Her Campus: How is a career in football different from any other career you could pursue?
Jibreel Black: Honestly, football requires a lot of things that every other career requires. You have to have mental and physical capabilities, and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication just like any other career does.
HC: What was your favorite part about going to Michigan?
JB: Football was my favorite part, and I know that’s the answer everyone expects. But to put in the work we have to put in, you have to love the game. Being able to come here and play the sport I love while getting a phenomenal education was more than I could have asked for. I’m really excited to see where football will take me, but it’s nice to know that I also have the option of finding work off the field because I’ve got a degree from one of the best schools in the world.
Though our chapter as Michigan undergrads has come to a close, our lives are unfolding in exciting new ways. Michigan prepares you for the realities of the world outside the maize and blue walls. It’s more than just a prestigious institution; it’s our mentor, our friend, at time our enemy, but always our hoMe. For today goodbye, for tomorrow good luck, and FOREVER GO BLUE!