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How will your life change once you become a Wolverine? Student blogger, Maryam Masood (#Victors2022), shares 11 ways you'll change after you move to Ann Arbor. Also, head over to @UmichAdmissions story on Instagram to ask Maryam a question!

For many, the idea of college seems both daunting and exciting. Whatever side of the spectrum of emotions you may fall on, you’ll likely undergo several changes as you navigate your new life in Ann Arbor.

Walking around the M becomes second nature. My first week in Ann Arbor I nearly stepped on the M three times but was luckily saved from this public humiliation thanks to the warning of a friend. Now after being a month into my first year at U-M, I don’t even have to think about going around the M when I cross the Diag; I naturally do it.

You check Canvas and your UM email almost as much as Snapchat. But probably not with the same enthusiasm.

You do things by yourself—and maybe even start to like it, too. Between walking to class, grabbing a quick meal in the dining hall, or making a midday Walgreens trip, there will be many moments when you are alone. For the first time you will have complete control of your daily schedule and how you spend your day. But don’t worry—you’ll find time to hang out with friends, too!

You can't survive without coffee. If you weren’t already hooked in high school, you will be now. Luckily, Ann Arbor is home to a gazillion different coffee shops to satisfy your caffeine cravings. Espresso Royale, Mighty Good Coffee, and Literati Coffee are some of my favorites.

You become fluent in Michigan slang. Sorry Dwayne Johnson, but we had The Rock first.

You care less about what others think of you. Got a 9 a.m. class? Sweatpants it is. You’ll likely find yourself dressing much more casually than you did in high school. When you start school at Ann Arbor, you are given a blank state. Without the baggage of your awkward teen years, you can fully grow into yourself. Maybe by the end of your four years you’ll even call yourself an adult.

You will walk all the time. Most of your classes will take place in different buildings, which means that you will spend a lot of your time walking. If you’re anything like I am, you will probably become obsessed with checking the number of steps you’ve walked at the end of the day. You might even compete with your friends for who gets the most steps!

You become conscious about your spending habits. Now that you’re on your own, you are responsible for how you spend your money. You may find yourself deciding between buying ramen or a new pair of shoes. And nothing will excite you more than getting a good deal or hearing about a free event on campus.

You eat, sleep, and breathe Michigan Football—especially on games days. Even if you weren’t a football fan in high school, you sing (or scream) the fight song in The Big House like you’ve been a Wolverine since birth.

You will become more open minded. Michigan students come from all over—a total of 128 countries, exactly. Your first couple of weeks, you’ll meet many people with different backgrounds and a unique set of experiences. You’ll also try new things and visit new places as you become a part of the vast, diverse network of U-M students.

You will become more independent. On top of balancing your academic and social life, college students have the added responsibility of taking care of themselves. It’s your job to wake up for your morning classes, to do your laundry before you run out of socks, and to remind yourself to eat and sleep at some point.

Make the most of your time at Ann Arbor by embracing these new experiences. I’d like to think that in time, everyone finds a piece of home at U-M Ann Arbor—and some good eats and people too!