Hi! My name is Alyssa and I have officially been a Michigan Wolverine for coming up 4 years now, but the story runs much deeper than that. I come from a UofM family, as my older siblings both attended Michigan, however, I do come from a first generation household! I am the youngest of four siblings, I am bilingual, working on becoming tri and picking Spanish back up, and I am finishing out my college journey at one of the best universities the world has to offer. I would love to be a tour guide to share my wonderful experience at Michigan with any high schoolers who have curiosities or doubts about where they want to attend university. As a youngest child, I always appreciated the wisdom that my older siblings would bestow upon me, and would love to pass my own wisdom down to applicants or families interested in UofM.

Hometown

Northville, MI

Major(s)

Bachelor's of Science in Biology, Health, and Society, projected December 2026

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Michigan Intramural Tennis Alpha Delta Pi Delta Epsilon Mu PSA-Persian Students Association Helping Hands Ronald McDonald House Michigan Medicine Hospital Volunteering Study Abroad-Barcelona Spain at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Jan 2026-Apr2026 Working on Campus as Server​/​Bartender Volunteer at local free clinic in Detroit as a Medical Intern

Describe your college experience

My college experience was deeply rewarding in so many ways. Living on my own, expanding my social circle, and connecting with people from diverse domestic and international backgrounds was essential to my personal growth. Each year brought new lessons—whether it was taking on greater independence, navigating competitive club recruitment while mastering time management, or learning to embrace the trials and uncertainties of growing older. I have cherished every moment of this journey and consider it the most transformative period of my life. I am immensely grateful for the unique resources, relationships, and opportunities my university provided me.

Tip for future students

My biggest tip for incoming students is to embrace every opportunity with an open mind. Pushing past my comfort zone during my freshman year was a learning curve, but it proved to be transformative. College is the ultimate sandbox for experimentation, a time to figure out what you love, what you don't, and to make mistakes you can actually learn from. Without taking those risks and making mistakes, you miss out on invaluable life lessons. his "say yes" philosophy completely shaped my friendships, club involvements, and career path ,and it's how I plan to approach life after graduation, too.

Favorite class

My favorite course at Michigan was Introduction to Biochemistry. As an upper-level class, it served as the ultimate turning point where all the foundational coursework from the earlier years of undergrad and high school finally meshed together, making the content feel deeply applicable. It was undeniably challenging, but diving into the material, mastering complex concepts, and receiving validating feedback from my professor during office hours and exams reminded me exactly why I fell in love with science and healthcare. Walking out of that class with a true grasp of the material felt like my "I made it" moment.

Career goals

Looking ahead after graduation, my immediate plan is to dive into MCAT prep while working as an ER technician to gain direct clinical experience, along with shadowing doctors across different specialties. Alongside my service industry job and saving up for travel, I’m also excited to apply for research internships in Australia and commit to perfecting my Spanish. Ultimately, my goal is to apply to medical school and pursue a career in medicine—using this next chapter to broaden my perspective, build strong clinical skills, and grow both personally and professionally.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal free night always starts with staying active—whether that’s a good gym session, a Pilates class, playing a round of tennis or soccer, or just getting in some cardio. After heading home for a refreshing shower, I love calling my sisters to catch up. To wrap up the night, I'll put on a great movie either something completely new or a nostalgic classic (I almost always default to Spider-Man)before heading off to bed.

High school or secondary school

Detroit Country Day High School

Previous college

N​/​A

Favorite spot on campus

One of my favorite places in Ann Arbor is the Nichols Arboretum. I’ve spent countless summer days walking its trails, especially stopping by the Peony Garden when it blooms in late spring: which holds the largest collection of heirloom peonies in North America. Whether hosting picnics, reading on the lawn, or playing soccer in the open field, "the Arb" has been my ultimate sanctuary to unwind and connect with friends.