My City July 2022

D uring my time at UM-Flint, I found passions for research, critical thinking and prob lem-solving, all tools that I can use to further apply within my community to further my career. My undergraduate experience has taught me to be diligent, stay curious, listen more and be open to all possibilities and experiences. Even throughout the pandemic, I was able to achieve many of the goals I was looking for during this step in my collegiate career. If I would have gone to a larger university, I don’t believe I would have had the same connections, opportunities and work experience that I received at UM-Flint. I am proud to be a part of the U of M community that cares immensely about its students and the area that we are serving. As I look forward to continu ing my education and begin applying to medical schools, I hope to nd a university that fosters the same principles as the school I have called my home for the last four years. GO BLUE! T he greatest amount of personal growth I have experienced since starting at UM-Flint would be my leadership capabilities. Because of my personality, I never thought of myself as a leader. I was never the loudest in a room or the one with the most exciting ideas. However, through my experiences at this university, I have learned to challenge my idea of what it looks like to be a leader. I learned any one can lead regardless of their personality type. Moreover, our workplaces and communities ƒourish when there is a variety of leadership styles represented.„rough volunteering in di…erent capacities on campus, I learned where my strengths lie. One of these strengths is that I care deeply about inclusion and equity. As this passion grew, I knew I needed to step up as a leader, especially because I am pursu ing a career in the technology industry – an industry that has a history of both passively and actively excluding all but the most privileged groups. I cultivated my desire to pursue equitable leadership by participating in the Inclusive Leadership Certicate Program o…ered by Student Involvement and Leadership.„is program taught me how to practically implement an inclusive leadership style and that my voice is best used when making space for others who have been silenced. U M-Flint has fostered my personal and intellectual growth in various aspects of my life, not just educationally. I have been able to prioritize time for myself to heal past traumas, which has been extremely benecial in aiding my personal growth. Intellectually, I have become better at researching and communicating.„roughout my time at UM-Flint, when given the choice to research my own topic, I would research topics that would relate to my future career goals so that I could better understand the populations I may encounter. Overall, my passion for social work has grown through obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Had I not been given the opportunity to attend UM-Flint through the University Scholar Award, I do not think that I would have been able to continue my education. Now, I am prepared to pursue my Master’s Degree in Social Work and look forward to continuing my development to ward success in this eld. I am forever thankful for UM-Flint, and the committee that opened the doors for me to pursue my dreams and believed in me by giving me the chance to be the Scholar. UM-Flint has given me the opportunity to think about my future beyond education, and to see myself as capable of great success. 

Kaitlyn Bowie Bachelor of Science, Psychology Swartz Creek, MI

Katie Carver Bachelor of Science, Computer Information Systems Burton, MI

Brooke Fogg Bachelor of Science, Psychology Mammoth Spring, AR

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