STUDENT STORY

“Coming to Saginaw Valley State University has been a really good experience for me. I was kind of sheltered growing up, so taking that step of independence away from my small town was what really helped me grow as a person and as a leader.

One thing that surprised me about college is the amount of work you have to put in. In high school, I never felt challenged to get good grades. Here, it’s a lot different. You definitely have to put a lot more work in, but you get a lot more out of it as well.

My brother is also a student here at SVSU. Before he came here, I told him to make sure he went to a school that fits for him. I toured some of the bigger schools in the area and realized they were too big. SVSU was the perfect place for me.

I serve as the president of the Society of Women Engineers. As part of that group, I help advocate for K-12 grade girls to study STEM subjects. I’m trying to get them interested in engineering fields that are often intimidating for women to get into. Also, during my freshman and sophomore years, I was involved with Program Board, which provided opportunities to get out of my dorm and meet people.

When I first came to SVSU, I was very introverted and in my own shell. Going out to meetings and coffee nights for Program Board helped me make friends. By my second year, I was a senior event planner for the group, which helped me learn organization skills. The Society of Women Engineers helped me strengthen those leadership skills.

On the financial side of school, I received the President’s Scholarship to come to SVSU. That scholarship covers my full tuition. On top of that, I also received financial aid to cover housing. That assistance played a big part in choosing to come here.

After graduating, I plan on staying in Michigan. Last summer, I interned at Ford Motor Company. I got that position through attending a National Society of Women Engineers Conference. I’m also excited to share that I’ve accepted a full-time position with Ford, which I will begin in January after graduating this December!”

(Lindsay, Saginaw Valley State University, Mechanical Engineering)