A little while back, my dad posted a status on Facebook, asking for new album recommendations. Of course, I saw this and was inspired to post a status of my own (absolutely typical, as my dad and I are “the exact same person” - my mom). The guidelines of my post, pretty much the same as my dad’s, were an album that you think the entire world absolutely needs to hear, but no country music, no Post Malone, Travis Scott (that genre), and preferably no rap unless you think it to be a complete masterpiece that I’m really missing out if I don’t hear.

After I got into Michigan, before I was even thinking about freshman class registration, I remember my dad telling me that I absolutely need to take John U. Bacon’s class, “the History of College Athletics”. Each semester since, I’ve searched for the class on the course guide, but each time to no avail. Finally, this summer, Bacon announced that he’d be teaching not only the History of College Athletics, but also a course titled "Leading by Coaching”. Well, the History of College Athletics was an 8:30 class, and I had managed to create a schedule that did not start before 10am any day of the week, and that also did not have any Friday classes worked in. Fortunately, Leading by Coaching was at 11:30, so this decision was a no-brainer.

Mental health is something that I am, and have always been incredibly passionate about. It’s not a passion that I necessarily remain vocal about all the time, partially because I have other, stronger passions, but I would be lying if I said it’s not also partially due to the stigma surrounding mental health.

When I think of the University of Michigan, there isn’t much negativity that comes to mind at all. This school means the world and more to me. It could be encompassed within a cloud of smoke at all times, and I would learn to embrace it, because it’s Michigan.

As I’m mostly settled into my new apartment in Ann Arbor, and a week fraught with great times comes to a close, I am looking forward to beginning the academic year today. I’m getting used to life in Ann Arbor for another year, and I am nothing short of optimistic, elated, and proud to be here. Yesterday, I attended “Pride Outside”, the University’s LGBTQ+ pride festival. It was a really nice culmination of my first week back—I felt proud to be a part of the University’s community, as well as the LGBTQ+ community.