Hi!! I'm Naya, and I absolutely love Michigan! I'm originally from Southern California, so I know what it's like to pack up your life and head somewhere completely new. Even though Michigan had been my dream school since I was seven, moving over 2,000 miles from home was definitely a leap of faith. It ended up being the best decision I've ever made, and now I love helping other students picture themselves finding their place here too. I'm a pre-med student majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with minors in Medical Anthropology and Judaic Studies. Outside the classroom, I'm involved in research at Michigan Medicine, leadership in multiple student organizations, Professional Fraternities, Greek life, and Hillel, which means I've experienced so many different parts of campus life. I'm a huge people person, and I genuinely love meeting new people and sharing everything I love about Michigan. My goal is for our tour to feel like you're exploring campus with a friend, not listening to a rehearsed script. I'm always happy to answer questions, share my own experiences, and give you an honest look at what student life is really like. Whether you're curious about academics, research, campus traditions, student organizations, housing, or my favorite Ann Arbor spots, I'm an open book. I hope you leave feeling excited about Michigan and confident that you got a real student's perspective on what it's like to call this place home.

Hometown

Dana Point, California, USA

Major(s)

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology B.S.

Minor(s)

Judaic Studies, Medical Anthropology

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity (External Branding Chair) Chi Omega Sorority (Career & Personal Development Chair, Work Week Coordinator) Michigan Hillel (Greek Connect Fellow, Community Engagement Fellow, FYSH Board) University of Michigan Dance Marathon Michigan Medicine Undergraduate Research, Eating Disorder Partial Hospitlization Program Seeley Laboratory Undergraduate Research Michigan LEADS Scholar Global Student Surgery Alliance

Describe your college experience

Coming to Michigan was one of the biggest leaps I've ever taken, and without a doubt, one of the best decisions of my life. I was moving over 2,000 miles away from home, knew almost no one, and was starting completely from scratch. It was scary, but I was chasing my dream school, and I couldn't wait to see what was ahead. I'll never forget walking into my dorm room in Couzens on move-in day. As nervous as I was, the second I stepped inside, something just clicked. It sounds cheesy, but I remember thinking, "I'm home." From that moment on, Ann Arbor has truly felt like where I'm meant to be. People are always surprised when I tell them this because Michigan is such a large university, with over 50,000 students, but it has never felt that way to me. Somehow, this huge campus feels incredibly close-knit. Everywhere I go, I'm running into friends, professors, classmates, people from my organizations, or someone I met at an event. The campus is so full of life that it starts to feel like its own little town, and before you know it, you feel like you know everyone. Since arriving here, I've immersed myself in everything I could. I've gotten involved in research at Michigan Medicine, leadership positions in student organizations, Greek life, Hillel, Dance Marathon, and so many experiences that have introduced me to amazing people and lifelong friends. Every opportunity has opened another door, and every semester has made me fall in love with this university even more. People always ask me if there's anything I don't like about Michigan, and honestly...not really. If I absolutely had to complain about something, I'd say the Wi-Fi around Ann Arbor can be a little unreliable sometimes, but that's genuinely about it. Other than that, I have nothing but great things to say. I love this school, I love this community, and I love Ann Arbor. There truly isn't another place I'd rather spend my college years. Michigan has challenged me, helped me grow, introduced me to incredible mentors and friends, and given me opportunities I never imagined I'd have. Choosing this school was the best decision I've ever made, and if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would choose Michigan every single time.

Tip for future students

f I could give one piece of advice, it would be to put yourself out there—even if it feels a little awkward at first. Some of the best friendships, memories, and opportunities come from taking that first step. On our second day in Couzens, my freshman-year roommate (who's still one of my best friends) and I grabbed a tiny karaoke machine, walked through our hallway, and started knocking on doors to introduce ourselves to everyone. Looking back, it sounds a little ridiculous, but that one spontaneous decision introduced us to what is now our lifelong friend group. If we had stayed in our room waiting for people to come to us, we probably never would've met the people who have made Michigan feel like home. I also wish I had known that nobody has college figured out right away. It's so easy to compare yourself to everyone around you, but everyone is finding their own path at their own pace. Don't be afraid to try new things, change your mind, or step outside your comfort zone. Academically, don't be afraid to ask for help, t's one of the things I admire most about Michigan. No matter your major or the class you're taking, there are so many people who genuinely want to see you succeed. Go to office hours, visit the Science Learning Center (SLC), ask questions in discussion sections, form study groups, and get to know your professors and GSIs. Some of the most helpful conversations I've had have happened outside of the classroom. Michigan is challenging, but you're never expected to figure it all out on your own. One of the biggest misconceptions about Michigan is that it's cutthroat because it's such a highly ranked university. In my experience, it's been the exact opposite. I've found a community where students share study guides, work through practice problems together, and celebrate each other's successes. Everyone wants to do well, but they also want the people around them to succeed. There's a real sense that we're all stronger when we help each other, and I think that's one of the things that makes Michigan so special. Most importantly, take advantage of everything Michigan has to offer. Go to Festifall, cheer at football games, spend sunny afternoons on the Diag, explore downtown Ann Arbor, and say yes to opportunities that excite you. Michigan is an incredible place, and the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it. Before you know it, this campus, and the people you meet here, will start to feel like home.

Favorite class

This is such a hard question because my two favorite classes couldn't have been more different, but both had a huge impact on me. If I had to choose one, I'd say Childbirth and Culture with Professor Leigh Stuckey. As someone who hopes to become a physician, this class completely changed the way I think about healthcare. It showed me that medicine isn't just about biology, diagnoses, and treatments, it's also about culture, history, ethics, and understanding each patient's unique experience. Every class felt more like a conversation than a lecture, and I always left thinking about topics long after class ended. Professor Stuckey is one of the most engaging, thoughtful, and inspiring professors I've had at Michigan. She created such an open environment where every perspective was valued, and her passion for the subject made me look forward to every class. I truly think every future healthcare professional should take this course. A very close second would be Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 210) with Professor Nicole Tuttle. It was one of the most challenging classes I've taken, but also one of the most rewarding. Professor Tuttle has an incredible way of teaching that pushes you to truly understand concepts instead of memorizing reactions. She completely changed the way I approach problems, teaching me to analyze, reason through complex questions, and think in a way I never had before. It was definitely a difficult class, but there was such a strong sense of community, we were all in it together, helping each other through problem sets, office hours, and long nights of studying. Looking back, it's one of the classes I'm most proud of because it challenged me to grow not just as a student, but as a thinker. These classes were completely different, but together they reminded me why I want to become a doctor: one taught me how to better understand people, and the other taught me how to think critically and solve problems. I know both lessons will stay with me throughout my career.

Career goals

Ever since I was little, I've wanted to become a doctor. It's been my dream for as long as I can remember, and every experience I've had at Michigan has only reinforced that this is exactly what I'm meant to do. After graduating, I hope to attend medical school and eventually become a physician who combines compassionate patient care with research. I love the science behind medicine, but what excites me even more is the opportunity to build relationships with patients, advocate for them, and make a meaningful difference during some of the most important moments of their lives. One of the things Michigan has taught me is that great physicians need more than just a strong scientific foundation. My major has challenged me to think critically about the biology behind disease, while my minors in Medical Anthropology and Judaic Studies have shown me how culture, ethics, and personal experiences shape healthcare. They've reminded me that every patient has a unique story, and being a good doctor means understanding the whole person—not just the diagnosis. Research has also become a huge passion of mine. Through my experiences at Michigan Medicine, I've realized how much I enjoy asking questions, solving problems, and contributing to discoveries that can improve patient care. I hope to continue conducting research throughout my career because I believe some of the biggest advancements in medicine come from physicians who are constantly learning, questioning, and looking for better ways to care for their patients. At the end of the day, my goal is simple, I want to wake up every day doing work that I genuinely love while making a positive impact on other people's lives. If I can spend my career caring for patients, advocating for them, and helping advance medicine at the same time, I can't imagine anything more rewarding.

Ideal way to spend a free night

There is nothing I love more than a free summer night in Ann Arbor. The sun doesn't set until almost 9:30, so it feels like you have an entire extra day to spend with the people you love. My perfect night starts with a long walk through the Nichols Arboretum with my friends. Sometimes we'll wander through the trails, and other nights we'll make the walk all the way out to the docks by the Huron River. Just us, a speaker, and just talking for hours about everything and nothing. Eventually we'll realize we're starving, and then comes the hardest decision of the night: Sadako or Mani? If it's Sadako, I'm ordering the spicy salmon roll with my free the soup and salad every single time. If it's Mani, I'm already thinking about their Caesar salad before I even sit down, it might genuinely be my favorite salad I've ever had. They're completely different restaurants, but they're two places I always take people when they visit Ann Arbor. Sadako Japanese Restaurant and Mani Osteria and Bar are impossible to choose between. On the walk back, we'll cut through the Law Quad and end up sitting there for way longer than we planned, just talking and watching campus slowly quiet down as the sun sets. Before heading home, there's one last stop that's non-negotiable: Argus Farm Stop In my opinion, it has the best ice cream in Ann Arbor. I always get the homemade strawberry ice cream with chocolate chunks mixed in right in front of you, and I don't think I've ever left without saying, "This is so good." The night usually ends squeezed onto someone's couch for a game night, laughing until way too late, or just sitting around talking. Looking back, I don't think it's the big events I'll remember most about Michigan, although every game day, the Zac Bryan Concert, and winning the National Championship in Basketball this year are definitely unforgettable events. It's these ordinary nights that somehow become unforgettable. The little moments, the walks, the sunsets, the favorite dinner spots, the ice cream runs, and the people you're with, are what have made Ann Arbor feel like home, and they're the memories I'll carry with me long after graduation.

High school or secondary school

Dana Hills High School

Previous college

N​/​A

Favorite spot on campus

Although cliche, my favorite place on campus is the Law Quad, and I think it's because it's been the backdrop for so many of my favorite college memories. It's one of those places that somehow fits every occasion. I've spent afternoons there having picnics with friends, studying between classes, reading on the lawn, celebrating after exams, or just lying in the grass with music playing in the background. No matter how many times I go, I never get tired of it. One memory I'll never forget was studying there on a windy afternoon before an exam. I had flashcards spread out all over the lawn when a huge gust of wind sent them flying everywhere. My friends and I were running across the Quad trying to catch them, laughing the entire time. We eventually found almost all of them, and somehow that stressful study session turned into one of my favorite memories. Some of my favorite nights have ended there, too. After a late dinner downtown, we'll walk back through the Law Quad, sit on the grass with music playing, and talk for hours about everything from classes to our future plans. Somehow those conversations always last much longer than we expect, and before we know it, we've completely lost track of time. Whenever I picture my college experience, I picture the Law Quad. It's peaceful, beautiful in every season, and full of little moments that have meant so much more than I ever expected. Years from now, I know it won't just remind me of a place on campus, it'll remind me of the people and memories that made Michigan feel like home.