Meet the RC Ambassadors!

What first interested you in the RC? Or, why did you choose to join the RC? Initially what interested me about the RC was that the RC offered their own majors, I joined the RC mostly because of the Drama major and I really was drawn to the text-to-performance model.

What do you enjoy most about the RC? I love the people: the students and the professors. The students are all so warm and the community is so accepting. I have never once felt out of place or judged in an RC environment. Additionally, I have loved every RC class I have ever taken. The professors are absolutely wonderful and the small class sizes make the classes far more intimate than any other course I have taken on campus. Even virtually, I was able to connect with my peers and my professors. I have never felt disconnected or ignores. All the professors truly wish to be there and wish for us to succeed, which I really appreciate.

What first interested you in the RC? Or, why did you choose to join the RC?
I was worried that being the only person from my out-of-state high school to go to the University of Michigan this year I wasn’t going to make any friends or at least have someone with some shared experience to me. The idea of going to a school with over 40,000 students and not knowing a single person terrified me and almost convinced me not to attend in the first place. Fortunately, I looked into learning communities and the Residential College stuck out to me as being more than just a learning community. I was immediately drawn in by the language side of the RC because I was taking AP Spanish my senior year of high school and I was loving it.

I was also intrigued by the arts side of the RC too - I had been into art for most of my life and at that point I was really in love with painting and sculpting. The variety of classes that I could take to expand my love of art might’ve been the selling point of the RC for me, as well as the intensive language classes so that I would be able to have as much immersion as possible at the collegiate level without taking a semester abroad. I chose the RC because I loved the class options, the way current students spoke so highly of it, and because I knew I was bound to make friends with people who also share my love of languages and the arts.

What is one thing you wish you could tell yourself during senior year of high school, having the experiences and knowledge you do now?
During my senior year of high school, I got caught up in regretting all of the things I had “missed out on” throughout my high school career. I made myself feel terrible because I hadn’t joined as many clubs as I thought I should’ve, I regretted not going to a high school football game or social events. I didn’t realize that there is definitely still time for that in college, and in a lot of aspects being involved with your school in college is way more fun than it is in high school. I wish I could’ve told myself my senior year of high school that there’s still time and that I’ll join plenty of clubs in high school, be able to go to so many football games, and that there’s going to be thousands and thousands more people to get to know and have fun with. High school will not be the end of having fun, in fact, it’s only just the precursor to college.

What is the "vibe" of the RC?
The vibe of the RC is difficult to describe in words, but there’s definitely a comfortable feeling that comes with living in and being a part of the RC. I love that wherever you go in East Quad, there’s always an RC student doing something creative - whether it be playing music, making art, or displaying their own form of expression. The students in the RC are incredibly brilliant and studious, but they also know how to have fun with their friends. All of the RC faculty I’ve met have been just as unique as the program, and they’ve all been awesome in their own ways. The environment and the people of the RC demonstrate great passion and I think the passion is one of the strong feelings you get from the RC.

Future Goals: I would either like to attend Law School or Graduate School and end up in some branch of the government making environmental policies and change. My biggest goal is the National Parks Service but I am also really interested in research and would love to contribute to the research of my field.

What has your experience been like in the RC language program?
I came into the RC with little to no German knowledge and was interested in seeing how the RC's "intensive" course would compete with regular language curriculums. Though the work was challenging, I felt that the RC intensive language courses gave me a jump start on German and even other types of college classes because they were just as the name describes, intensive! I felt that I had a very strong relationship with both of my professors, we met multiple times a day and had other weekly meetings that helped promote communication and involvement. Other students in my class ranged in fluency starting with me coming from realistically zero experience and others with multiple years studying. I felt that the range in fluency allowed for better discussions because students were not always relying on professors to fill in the gaps, sometimes other students were able to be that additional support. Since finishing my RC language requirement, I have elected to major in German and will be traveling to Germany next year to study abroad, so all in all, I believe my experience in the RC language program has been nothing short of incredible and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to pursue language in this class-style.

What is one thing you wish you could tell yourself during senior year of high school, having the experiences and knowledge you do now?
I say this all the time on my tours and I honestly feel it is something so crucial, yet simple. My high school fostered a very competitive atmosphere. I remember tests and exams were as cutthroat as entrance exams like the SATs were. Students would constantly compare their results with each other, and if someone did not make the grade it was like the world was ending. I come from a very small town with a very small population, so the chances of every person in that school who wants to make it into a university such as Michigan would be fairly slim. I remember my senior year was especially difficult because this is when everyone was on edge in anticipation for that acceptance letter. I definitely felt a wave of relief when I was accepted into the University of Michigan, but I remember that fear of competition and "not being good enough" mentality set back in and deepened. I felt that I could not compare to the students at Michigan and if I thought the competition back home was bad, there was no way I could compete here. However, after my first year I came to realize just how backwards my view on college as a whole was. I expected tests to be handed back and students to immediately be curious about each other's grades so they could see where they fare with the rest of class. Yet I saw nothing of the sort. Classmates would talk about how difficult the exam was and how glad its over and that they just need to get a certain grade in the class to pass. I was surprised to learn that in college, competition does not really exist in the classroom setting. After I got to know other students in my classes, I realized that they were all pursuing different majors and we would most likely rarely interact in classes for the rest of our time here. That's when I realized that the only person you need to worry about in college is yourself. There is no point agonizing over everyone else because to be honest, you do not have the time. College has given me that opportunity to learn more about myself and learn about what I like rather than what I think will help me be the "best" and I wish I had known that before.

What is it like being an RC student pursuing an LSA major or minor?
As an LSA triple major, I have a lot on my plate in terms of classes and workload. I have decided to space my time out and will most likely take an extra year or two to complete my majors with the most care. Something that I really value about being an RC student and an LSA student is that I am able to participate in an abundance of programs and opportunities regardless of my direct involvement in the program. Though I am not an RC major, I still feel like I am a part of the community because I lived in East Quad for a year, I got to meet so many other RC students, and I was able to see the different clubs and organizations that run through the RC, all while being an LSA major. I have especially enjoyed my time in the RC Forums where I have had the opportunities to talk about things I love while also talking with other RC students that I would not have the chance to meet otherwise. I really value getting involved in the programs offered to me by the RC because they allow me to still make those connections with the program even if I do not have an RC major.

What first interested you in the RC?
The RC had the two degrees that sounded perfect for me. I get bored doing the same things fairly easily and these majors would give me all the freedom to research what I'm passionate about, even if it changes.

What is one thing you wish you could tell yourself during your senior year of high school, having the experiences and knowledge you do now?
Try everything at least once. I would get so bogged down trying to figure out what I should do before I even tried it without realizing that I didn't even know who I was or what I truly enjoyed. I don't even think I fully know myself now; I am always learning more because I am constantly pushing myself to experience more. College is the perfect place to do this learning.

How has being in the RC changed/shaped your experience at UM?
It's given me a home base to come back to where I am familiar with the energy and faces of a space. It's easy to get lost with how big the campus is and how many people are in it, so this is really helpful in gaining a sense of security.

Do you have any future goals you'd like to share? Grad School

What first interested you in the RC? Or, why did you choose to join the RC?
Coming from a smaller high school, the size of U-M really intimidated me; I was scared I wouldn’t be able to find a community or have access to individualized resources in college, but the RC makes U-M feel small and provides an immediate community to fall into on campus, which drew me to it. I was also very interested in the language immersion program and creative writing degree the RC offers!

What is one thing you wish you could tell yourself during your senior year of high school, having the experiences and knowledge you do now?
Letting go is the scariest part. Be organized and prepared, and put your best foot forward, but don’t worry too much about what’s out of your control. The outcome might not be what you expect or hope for, but you will adapt and find your place again.

Future Goals: I hope to transfer to the School of Public Health for my Junior and Senior Year

What first interested you in the RC? Or, why did you choose to join the RC?
I joined the RC for the community. The University of Michigan has all kinds of opportunities to find a community that you feel is right for you. However, searching for the right fit can feel like an overwhelming task in a university of this size. So, during my freshman year, I appreciated that the Residential College was a welcoming community with an opportunity to meet people with similar interests. It allowed me to find a sense of community on such a large campus.

What is one thing you wish you could tell yourself during senior year of high school, having the experiences and knowledge you do now?
I would tell myself not to burn myself out so much. I often felt really stressed in high school, but I wish I had realized that high school is only one of the many steps toward reaching our goals. I thought that I needed to have my entire life figured out by the end of high school, and I thought I did have it figured out. However, within my first two weeks at the university, those plans that I thought I had perfected in high school were completely destroyed. I realized that there are other options in life besides the ones I had imagined in high school. So, I would myself not to worry too much in high school because whether I like it or not, plans will change, and that's perfectly fine. It's okay to explore, and we can't expect our lives to always follow a plan that we imposed on ourselves years ago.

Future Goals: I hope to attend Graduate School, and pursue a PhD in Neuroscience. 

How has being in the RC changed/shaped your experience at UM? Being in the RC introduced me to my closest friends at U of M. I ended up loving my random roommate and met a community of people in East Quad. Having a support system close by was incredibly important to my first-year experience. 

What is it like being an RC student studying STEM? Pursuing a STEM major as an RC student was initially daunting, yet after spending time talking with RC advisors, I realized that being a part of the RC wouldn't hinder my ability to pursue BCN. The RC faculty and advisors I've interacted with have all been incredibly supportive of my interest in pursuing Neuroscience, and have made me only more passionate about cognitive science. Being in the intensive language program has also opened up opportunities to do research abroad, and helped me balance my schedule.

What do you enjoy most about the RC? I most enjoy the sense of community.  I had an amazing group of friends in my hall freshman year, and we still get together and catch up 2 years later.  Coming from a background in homeschooling and a tiny charter school, the RC's close-knit vibe helped me better adjust to a larger university environment.  I also love how there is always someone sharing their talents with the community through projects, seminars, or even playing on the piano in the lounge.  It's a great space for inspiration and creativity.

What has your experience been like in the RC language program? Fantastic!  I love how immersive it is, and I particularly miss the vibrant discussions during the lunch tables and coffee hours.  The 8 credits per semester can seem very intimidating at first, but I had wonderful professors who helped me get myself oriented and were supportive whenever I felt overwhelmed.  Even though I had 3 years of Spanish study before coming to the RC, being in the language program was where I really ended up mastering the language, and I am so grateful for that as I now use Spanish frequently in both work and academic life.

What is one thing you wish you could tell yourself during senior year of high school, having the experiences and knowledge you do now? I would tell myself not to stress so much.  I am a person who likes to have multiple plans and backup plans, and who likes to have a set path.  I was so sure of what I was going to do at U-M, but ended up changing my path so many times.  It's okay to want to have a plan (a sense of direction is necessary, and organization is always your friend), but don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  Sometimes the best opportunities and the place where you feel the most at home are nothing that you expected.  Explore.

What do you enjoy most about the RC? The aspect of the RC that I enjoy the most is the community within East Quad. Seeing familiar faces every day really helped me feel more comfortable and safe, especially as a transfer student. There are always events happening and ways to connect with other students.

What is one thing you withc you could tell yourself during senior year of high school, having the experiences and knowledge you do now? ? The one thing I would tell myself during my senior year of high school is “it’ll all be okay”. I was originally committed to NYU’s Film school to pursue my passion of filmmaking. Because of COVID, that option became unavailable and I was beyond stressed. But everything worked out just fine. I ended up getting recruited to play professional soccer in England, then eventually found my home at Umich (after a career ending injury). Trust the process and everything will be okay.