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As a life-long Michigan fan, I knew not to step on the Block M emblazoned on the Diag by the time I was 6 years old. I knew that my family loved wearing maize, preferred to avoid the colors red and white, and always yelled ‘Go Blue’ when we saw people donning Michigan gear. I traveled to Ann Arbor several times with my family as a child, but I’ll never forget taking my first official guided tour when I was a senior in high school. No matter if your first time on campus was the day of move-in or if you’ve grown up around Ann Arbor your entire life, every student’s experience is different. Here are a few standout memories from mine.

New Perspectives From Tour and Info Session

Although I felt as if I knew all that U-M had to offer, my tour and information session were incredibly eye-opening for me. Hearing statistics about past alumni, rankings that highlighted the school’s prestigious academics, and the plethora of opportunities to get involved was very inspiring and showed a side of the school that I had not previously experienced. There were clubs that I had not known existed and majors that I hadn’t even considered. I left the session feeling positive that the University of Michigan checked all of my boxes.

Learning About Even More Areas of Campus

As a child meandering through Central and North Campus, I had a map in my head of what I thought Michigan’s campus looked like. I had been in the Fish Bowl, watched hockey games at Yost Ice Arena, and seen a concert at Hill Auditorium. If you asked me then, I'd say I pretty much had a lay of the land. Nevertheless, whatever that internalized map was, my tour expanded it tenfold. Michigan’s campus is quite big, boasting over 3,200 acres. I learned about the Hill Neighborhood, the convenient transportation to and from North Campus, and academic buildings that I had no idea existed.  I noticed that there are a variety of buildings from every era of U-M, from the historic Law Quad built in 1924 to the sleek and modern Central Campus Classroom Building that finished renovations in 2022, and this only enhances the idea that Michigan has a bit of everything. It has the importance of legacy and tradition while also continuously expanding. In addition to this, I found the proximity to downtown Ann Arbor to be a fantastic opportunity to explore the city and its diverse culinary and artistic scene.

Conclusion

My campus tour was the first time I was truly aware of what my future could become. I was swept away with the hustle of students getting to class, studying in every nook and corner, and becoming the difference that they wanted to see in the world. There was a motivating factor to seeing the campus population and the ceaselessness of those who are in search of their Michigan degree. It was a continuation of the legacy that Michigan holds, a purpose much larger than ourselves. I remember no longer seeing myself as a child spinning The Cube for the first time. I saw myself, books in hand, backpack over my shoulders, walking to my next class, going to a club meeting, or hanging out with friends on the Diag. The opportunity to grow was endless, and Michigan held the tools for my future. After that, my choice was clear: I was ready to Go Blue!