As Break draws to a close...

Happy Holidays!

I thought about what to write here, and all I could think about was the end of the semester and what I've learned in three semesters here at Michigan. So here goes:

I cannot believe that I've been in Ann Arbor for three semesters. It truly is my home, and I cannot imagine going to school anywhere else. For those of you seniors reading this, I was sitting in your shoes two years ago exactly, and all of my applications had finally been turned in. I applied to places in California and the Midwest mostly, all out of state except that my parents made me apply to Michigan and Michigan State. I remember getting my email from Michigan that all of my stuff had been processed on December 12th and that I would know within 8-12 weeks.

I think it was sometime in February that I got my email acceptance and I had just gotten home from a weekend at Michigan State. I was CONVINCED I was going to go there. My dad insisted that I go to Michigan's Campus Day and see what it was like. I went on Good Friday, and first met with the UROP lady. I had been offered a Professorial Assistantship position at State, and finding UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) seemed awesome. They had an 800 page book of research options, and this awesome project page about injecting mice to investigate diseases.

Then we went through our first presentation, where a man (whose name I really should remember but don't) introduced himself and welcomed us to the university. He asked us to look around, see the "Sweatshirt Factor" on campus, and embrace Michigan. I thought he was NUTS as he explained that people are so proud to be a part of this community that they show it in their scarves, shoes, shirts, everything. Truth be told, I have slippers, sandals, and flats covered in that big yellow block M. After our tour and LSA presentations, I sat in on a religion class. It was amazing. He had a thick Russian accent and talked about Jesus and the crucification controversy, etc (quite fitting for Good Friday).

I walked back to my dad after the class and said, "we should probably pay the enrollment, I think I'm going to Michigan". Even though I'd never grown up with Maize and Blue, it was that sweatshirt factor that pulled me in.

I spent the next two months really unsure about whether I was at the right university or not, and Orientation was the deciding factor. I absolutely LOVED it. The spirit on this campus on Football Saturdays is electric, the freedom and options were amazing, and I loved the people that mixed discussions about school with fun stories and sports arguments.

The morale of this story is: COME TO CAMPUS DAY. Let me tell you why:

1. You can come visit me :) (This is not the primary reason. I just thought it should be first)
2. Making a college decision without seeing the campus or meeting other students that got in is a big mistake.
3. No words can describe Michigan on paper or over the phone. It just doesn't do it justice. I'm sure this applies to every college, but I can really speak to Michigan.


Next time, I'll talk about Greek Week (a Greek-wide competition to raise money for charity), my classes, and SNOW!

Peace, Love, and Marshmallow Shooters (which I got for Chrismukkah and LOVE),

Sam