Confession: I grew up wanting to go to Michigan State

Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect — unless you’re Jennifer Lawrence — and sometimes it takes going through the bad to get to the good. In extreme cases, sometimes you have to go through being a Sparty to get to be a Wolverine.

It’s possible that in high school you, like me, thought you wanted to be a Spartan. You dreamed of the Red Cedar and “Spartying On,” but for one reason or another you came to your senses and decided to join the leaders and best at the University of Michigan. However, that dark time is never fully behind you.

If you identify with the above statements then you’re most likely a victim — a victim of Post Traumatic State Disorder. You live in constant fear of TBTs, Flashback Fridays, and pretty much any picture from middle school that shows the time before you were a Wolverine.

It’s late. Late–late. Like late enough that Pizza House is running its Late Night Cravers special where cheesy bread and a milkshake are only 10.99. You’re sitting on the second floor of the Ugli attempting to finish this 10-page research project. Your best friend sits across from you. You glance up from your laptop to see your friend aimlessly trolling on your Facebook when suddenly a smile spreads across her face. You know all too well what is happening.

The panic starts to set in. Your palms get clammy and you lose all appetite for that delicious Reese’s milkshake sitting in front of you. You know your friend has just brought back an old photo from its virtual grave on Facebook. By clicking the like button on this picture your mom posted in 2011, your friend has unearthed your dark past, and it’s now being blasted across everyone’s feeds.

No regrets

You frantically open a new tab and log into your account. There it is. Sitting at the top of your Facebook timeline is the picture of you sporting those colors you used to know so well. There is most likely an embarrassing caption accompanying this picture: “Sparty On” or “I bleed Green.” You glare at your friend as they laugh and laugh about what they’ve done.

Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Many students at the University of Michigan share this dark past and deal with the consequences daily. Take solace in the fact that the trauma is worth the pain — because it is truly great to be a Michigan Wolverine.

Jacqueline Welday, Freshman, Neuroscience

“My family wanted me to Sparty On, but I wanted a job post-grad.”

Maddie Huffman, Sophomore, Data Science

“Green and white just looked SO flattering on me. But when it came down to it, Michigan was the obvious choice.”

Bridget Lockman, Freshman, Program in the Environment

“I’ve met my best friends here — you know, the people who will split a jumbo feta bread with me at 3am. It’s honestly the best place on Earth, even though math 115 tries to get me down sometimes. I’m thankful to go to the greatest University on the planet.”

Kelly Shashlo, Junior, Undeclared

“Although I wouldn’t trade the time I spent at MSU with the friends I’ve made there, I am 100% a Wolverine at heart and happy to have ended up in AA!”

Yasmine Antone, Junior, Drama

“Wiz Khalifa specifically states that in order to party hard you must work hard. So I figured the parties there must have sucked.”