It’s just a regular day on campus at the University of Michigan, when all of the sudden you see a large group of kids with their parents approach the diag. You can just tell when it is going to be a “tour day” here at Michigan. There is a small amount of sun, just enough to show these kids that the weather should not make or break their decision.
The tour guide wears a bright yellow jacket and walks them over to the M. The tour is told the legend that if you step on the M you will fail your first blue book exam. And the only way to reverse this is to run around the diag when the bell tower strikes midnight. Naked might I add.
The high schoolers will giggle and think how cool that tradition is. They may try to catch a frantic college student mess up and step on the M. But they will soon learn that is just never the case.
The parents will look around in awe or stay in the front asking countless questions, but the best part is to look at the kids pass by. They will stare at us college kids as we walk by wondering if they could fit in here: if this could be the place for them.
When I walk by these tours, I can’t help but smile. I smile because I found the place that makes me proud. I remember sitting on countless tours, including at Michigan, overwhelmed, equally impressed by what all the schools can offer, and more confused at times than when I began the process.
I smile to show the kids on the tour that this place makes me happy. I know it’s not for everyone but this feeling is. My smile might be a small brag that I am already at my happy place. But you will find your school and once you do take a second to watch the tours as the next year of students find the place that makes them as proud as we are.
