Meet Your Orientation Leaders
| Emily Anderson | |
 | Major: Honors Psychology Lives: In Community Advice to new students: New students should realize that it's okay to be nervous, but there are tons of people that are willing to help them feel welcome. Advice to parents: Have your students call and ask any questions they have, even if you are used to doing it for them. It is important for them to start doing things for themselves. What community means: Community is the people who are always there for you when you need them. Academic experience at UM-Flint: Teachers are always willing to answer any questions you have and like it when students come to their office hours. |
| Lauren Buswell | |
 | Major: Honors English Minor: Theatre Lives: In Community Advice to new students: Take advantage of every opportunity, and don't be afraid of failure. Fear can keep you from pursuing your goals and dreams, but here at UM-Flint, you can find people that will support you in achieving your goals. Advice to parents: The time has come for your students to begin making their own decisions. Work to be a partner in your student's education, and allow them to find the path that works for them. What community means: Community is a group of people working together, pursuing common goals and ideals but realizing that we are not all the same. Academic experience at UM-Flint: At UM-Flint, the professors are actually interested in you as a person. They are there here to support you and help you grow. |
| Jarrod A. Chapmon | |
 | Major: Elementary Education |
| Jordan Climie | |
 | Major: Journalism and Theatre Lives: In Community Advice to new students: If you're worrying about selecting a major and trying to figure out what you want to do for a career, stop! You have plenty of time to find something that suits you best. The important thing is that you really consider what will make you the happiest and follow that. Advice to parents: Be patient with your collegiate child, chances are they're feeling a little overwhelmed right now even if they don't show it. The adjustment from high school to college can take some people by surprise, so be sure to always be there to help your child out. What community means: Community means realizing there are more people included than just you and your fellow students. It means that while we all don't live in Flint, we are part of the city of Flint and its success is our success. Academic experience at UM-Flint: I never really took opportunities to make academics the best they could be for me. What I realize now is not getting overwhelmed is the key. It might take longer to graduate, but at least you can take on every class with ease and understanding. |
| Tyeisha Cox | |
 | Major: Honors Criminal Justice and Sociology Lives: On Campus Advice to new students: Do not be afraid to ask when you do not know (or even if you do). We have all been freshmen, so we can understand all uncertainties you may have! Advice to parents: You have done a wonderful job raising your child, now we will take him/her and let them blossom on campus in academic, and personal excellence. What community means: Community is the unity of individuals that would not otherwise be unified. They live, work, and grow together and better their environment for themselves and for the future. Academic experience at UM-Flint: Academia at UM-Flint is more than you would expect. You are more than just a face here. The professors teach to you, not at you, and they are are willing to offer any additional help. |
| Ahmad Dandachi | |
 | Major: Honors Computer Science Lives: In Comminity Advice to new students: Time management is one of the most important things you should learn within the first few weeks of class. Advice to parents: As your student transitions to the university environment they must learn to be responsible for their own actions. What community means: A group of people that live within the same culture and come together around a common interest. They may or may not have come from the same culture to start with but now share a culture. Academic experience at UM-Flint: As a student in the Honors Program I have taken roughly 30 credits at UM-Flint and have found many of the professors to care about their students as compared to a larger school where students may have never met their professors. This personal relationship I have formed with my professors has helped me to further my education. |
| Tiffany Dixon | |
 | Major: Elementary Education, Social Studies Minor: Language Arts Lives: In Community Advice to new students: Don't let yourself get frustrated and give up. Classes aren't going to be easy but don't revolve your whole life around them. You're in college now, allow yourself to really experience it. It goes by so fast. Advice to parents: I'm sure you've heard this from your child, but they aren't your little baby anymore. Little do they know, they will still need you. Be there to back them up and give them advice, but make sure they know that it's time to take the reins in their own life now; all of their choices should be their own. What community means: Community at the University of Michigan-Flint is what you make of it. There are so many student groups, organizations, intramural sports, and many other opportunities to get involved and meet new people. Academic experience at UM-Flint: College is nothing close to what high school was like. I really had to learn to buckle down and study; procrastination doesn't work anymore. |
| Ronnessa Duncombe | |
 | Major: Organizational Communications Lives: On Campus Advice to new students: Be open to new experiences and ideas whether it’s academically or socially, there will be new and different opportunities at every turn. Explore them where possible but always keep in mind that your education comes first. Don’t be afraid to say no where necessary, especially to friends. Advice to parents: Talk to your student, find out what interests them and why. Encourage them to get involved, it will help them to discover more about themselves. Be aware of their goals and struggles and offer support at every turn but allow them to experience things for themselves. What community means: Community is a group of people sharing, accepting individuality, coming together to form a unit, understanding, creating bonds, supporting each other, encouraging each other, solidarity, team spirit and unity. Academic experience at UM-Flint: The main focus at UM-Flint is definitely academics. Faculty and staff genuinely seem interested in your progress and struggles and if they are unable to help they will refer you to someone who can. The services and departments available are designed to help you succeed. Tutoring is an excellent resource, professors are engaged and accessible. |
Sheril Howse | |
 | Major: Communications Minor: Business Lives: In Community Advice to new students: Relax; don’t panic, enjoy the friendly atmosphere, and don’t become overwhelmed. The best way to do this is ask ANY question you need an answer to. If one person doesn’t have the answer, someone can direct you to someone who does know. If you get overwhelmed anyway and you don’t want to talk to any student or faculty about it, there is a counseling center on campus, perfectly private. Advice to parents: Let your student go, and trust the faculty and staff to get your child through. Reassure them. Let them do their own registration so they can understand the process. Let them get answers to the questions they have on their own. This will instill in them a sense of confidence and start them on their way to full maturity as well as a confident college experience. What community means: Learning to love where you live, and making good of the resources available. There really is something for everyone, from movies, bowling, roller skating, fitness, museums, science exhibits and arts, to a wide variety of places to eat and shop. You don’t always have to party to have a good time. In fact, the best way to get to know yourself is to expand your horizons and try new things, either on your own or with a friend. Also, community means having friends you can share similar ideas and desires with. Academic experience at UM-Flint: Very orderly and positive, and when there were questions I didn’t know the answers to, I went to Academic Advising and Career Center, (which is an excellent resource with very knowledgeable people), or my personal academic advisor. They can help you sort out which classes will get you to graduation the fastest. |
| Samantha MacFarland | |
 | Major: Theatre Lives: In Community Advice to new students: Manage your time! Assignments are going to creep up on you. Figure out a way to make sure you have to time to do everything; that includes school, work, jobs, extra extra-curricular activities, and social life! You want time for it all, and it’s possible! Just manage your time well! Advice to parents: Encourage your student to get involved somewhere outside of class! It will make their experience so much more! What community means: To me, community is recognizing that everyone is different, but respecting and accepting them for the unique individuals they are. Academic experience at UM-Flint: UM-Flint has challenged me academically and pushed me to want to do better. I have never felt more respected as an individual, or more encouraged to do well. |
| Martin Morales | |
 | Major: Visual Communications Minor: Business Lives: On Campus Advice to new students: I would advise first-year students to become more involved with the school; do not just come and go! It is important that all students become more active on campus and interact as often as possible with fellow students. Many students that just come and go do NOT get the full effect of college life. Advice to parents: I advise that all parents at this moment take a few steps back from their student. Your student is now in college; your student is now an adult. Support your student as often as needed, but let them make their own choices. It is important that each student gets a good idea of life without there being someone to catch them when they fall, or someone to help them stand back up. You taught your student to stand; you taught them how to walk, now it is time to let them run! What community means: Community is a group of people in a common location that interact and function in a sufficient way. Communities can be very strong based on the environment that they fall in. Here at the University of Michigan-Flint the students and staff produce a well-structured, friendly, welcoming environment and our community continues to grow. Academic experience at UM-Flint: My academic experience at the University of Michigan-Flint is nothing like what I thought it would be! It is a lot better. I can say that in each class I was expecting to become just another name on a sign-in sheet; just another name in the corner of each final paper. But at the University of Michigan-Flint each student is an individual that is given the proper attention needed by professors, academic staff and also by fellow students. |
| Jeff Shuel | |
 | Major: Communications Minor: Graphic Design Lives: In Community Advice to new students: Stay focused. Remember why you are here attending university. Don’t forget to have fun along the way, but don’t let your fun get in the way of your goals. Advice to parents: Encourage your student to get involved. There is a lot more to college than just going to classes and it is important to future employers to see a person’s ability to balance both aspects. What community means: Community to me means coexisting with people from all walks of life. It means learning and growing from those individuals and accepting their differences. Academic experience at UM-Flint: Academics are a large part life here at UM-Flint. It is the reason we are all here and the faculty do an excellent job of understanding and assisting us in our tasks. |
| Kayla Trundle | |
 | Major: Elementary Education - Social Studies Minor: Language Arts and Mathematics Lives: In Community Advice to new students: You have the power to make these years at the University the most memorable in your life. I encourage you to get involved in a club or organization on campus! You won't regret it. Advice to parents: College is the time for your student to transform into a mature, responsible adult. Be sure to allow your student to make their own decisions. What community means: Community is a place where people realize everyone is different, but value each person because of their differences. It's a place where people feel they belong. Academic experience at UM-Flint: Classes at UM-Flint definitely require more time and commitment than high school classes. However, the best part is, the classes will pertain to your major which means you will actually be interested in the subject matter! |