Success Stories
Lori Vedder is UM-Flint’s Director of Financial Aid. She is also a mom. Lori shares with us her vivid memory of the day her child went off to college.
"The day arrived when our first born went off to college. Yes, I struggled with the realization that I also had come of age. Where did all the time go? Weren’t my husband and I just in college? Nonetheless, our son’s decision was made. He was staying home and choosing to attend the University of Michigan in Flint. A Wolverine fan all of his life, he decided a Michigan degree was his goal and the thought of getting football tickets to the Big House in Ann Arbor wasn’t a bad deal either!
When I attended orientation with my son, I happily discovered some budding maturity. By the end of the session, confidence in his decision seemed to rise. He placed higher on the placement exams than he anticipated and seemed content with his course schedule. My husband and I still couldn’t grasp that our little boy, who once snuggled in our laps and raced up and down a soccer field for so many years, had finally reached college age. We had to adjust, ask less, and trust we taught him well. We had to let him experience a little more freedom, take a backseat, and let him grow… but was he ready?
Were we? Time passed as he trucked off to the University everyday with his backpack in tow.
The wonderful news is that our son is pleased with his experience at the University of Michigan in Flint! We sometimes discuss the talks he has with professors. The faculty and staff are incredibly approachable. He is learning to work on group projects in a variety of classes. He is discovering his talents, strengths, and weaknesses. During a tough course this past year, he sought assistance on campus and quickly learned that there is nothing wrong in seeking help. It can pay off! He has made new friends, kept the old, discovered more about himself, and has begun charting his path for the future.
It wasn’t easy sending our first child off to college. He probably adjusted faster and easier than his father and I. As parents, we want assurances that we are giving the best to out children – hopefully even better than we had as young adults. We know in our hearts our son will do well down the road. He will make good choices and deal with the disappointments that life throws all of us…just as my husband and I did at his age. With all of the opportunities waiting for him at the University of Michigan-Flint, we are confident he will be just fine!"
