As an out-of-state student, I received more than financial relief with the U of M Club of Dallas Scholarship. I also received reassurance from alumni that I belonged at Michigan.
Some might say my path to U-M was not necessarily clear. I grew up in Dallas, where I attended high school at a performing and visual arts school and I’d never experienced a snowy winter. I first visited Michigan my sophomore year of high school, when my older sister was applying to college. While Michigan was always in the back of my mind, I thought I was supposed to end up at an art institute.
When senior year rolled around, I decided to return to Ann Arbor. I visited the Stamps School of Art & Design for the first time—it had every medium that I had ever dreamed of experimenting with. I remember thinking about what kind of projects I would produce and imagined them displayed on the exact walls I was looking at. In that moment, I knew this was a place I could see myself.
I started checking my email daily for updates about scholarships and aid. That’s when I was introduced to the Dallas alumni club. I attended a few events. Their joy and excitement for Michigan made me excited, and I felt encouraged.
At the club’s final going away party, I received the U of M Club of Dallas Scholarship. I was so shocked. I couldn’t believe that, among all the students and rigorous academics they were pursuing, the club saw something special in my art and were putting their trust in me.
Fast forward to today. I am halfway through my freshman year and grateful every day for this opportunity. I am being challenged to explore new mediums I never knew existed and am broadening my artistic horizons, while experiencing the endless opportunities of a large university. I am considering a dual degree in entrepreneurship to complement my focus in fine art. I go to football games on the weekends and am a part of a community of all backgrounds, ultimately making me a more well-rounded person.
Looking back, I always knew exactly where I wanted to go to college, but I wasn’t completely confident in saying my dream out loud. Combined with the generosity and support of countless alumni in your area, you help students like me realize their greatest potential, while lightening the financial burden of a college education.
I hope you’ll consider a gift to the regional club scholarship in your area, so other students receive the support they need to pursue a Michigan education.
Learn more about your local club and how you can help change the lives of students from your community.
