Jahzarah McIntosh - University of Michigan
2025
This year has been turbulent for me with many changes happening at once. Before the beginning of the semester, I spent months developing a business idea to pursue the following year, and hopefully grow into something meaningful even after university. I was at a crossroads: during the time that many of my close friends were preparing to recruit jobs in finance and consulting, I wasn’t sure if that was the right path for me. Into the school year, I was living by myself, growing my brand with my business partner and attending classes. Throughout this, I didn’t realize how much my mentality was changing. I began to mistake isolation with dedication, and I stopped hanging out with my friends and quit most of the clubs I was in, even one of the clubs that I co-founded. At the time, I believed it was the right choice to remain focused, but looking back, I wish I thought more about the part outside of the career that those clubs provided: community. In trying to work too hard, I disregarded growing and being with your friends, which is such an important part of university. When I realized this, I made it a point to put more effort into enjoying my time at the University of Michigan. I became more active in my clubs. I don’t regret spending that time by myself because I discovered how important community was to me, and I am grateful that I have such amazing people to spend my time here with. I have new roommates now, and they have become some of my closest friends. A big lesson from my last semester has been discovering what was truly valuable to me, and pursuing what I am passionate about, through all of the phases, has been especially rewarding.
2024
Being able to study at the University of Michigan is truly a dream. If it weren’t for the continuous support of my family and friends back home and in other parts of the United States, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I feel immense gratitude for those who have helped me, which pushes me every day to have the best university experience I can. I am currently part of multiple faith-based clubs at the University of Michigan and serving on the executive board for a consulting club. I also have discovered a new passion for computer science, and I plan on making that my minor. Our programming team even won an award for the game that we designed! I am looking forward to recruiting for competitive investment clubs next winter. Classes are not so hard if you study right! Ann Arbor is beautiful in the fall, and I love walking around or spending time with my friends spontaneously. The winters in Michigan are not as bad as people say, in fact, a part of me embraces the cold and cloudy mornings. It’s crazy to think about how much has happened and time has flown so quickly. To anyone listening or reading this, I urge you to never give up on your goals and never be afraid to ask for help. As a first-generation college student, it was easy to get swept up in myself and feel like I had to take on this burden alone. But that was and is never the case. My time at the University of Michigan has been both challenging and exciting, and I embrace that feeling with every new morning. My gratitude extends indefinitely.