After their final spring break, these 4 university seniors prep for post-college life

Editor's note: This story is part of a series tracking the experiences of four graduating seniors at four different Michigan universities. It is a partnership between the Detroit Free Press, Michigan State University student reporters and the American Communities Project.

Spring comes with some perennial traditions for Michigan's college students, who can count on things like exams, year-end celebrations, and, of course, spring break.

A reporting partnership between the Detroit Free Press, Michigan State University student reporters and the American Communities Project has kept in touch with four seniors at four Michigan universities to track their experiences as they navigate the end of college and prepare to launch into the workforce.

In this story, we checked in with students after spring break to hear about how they spent it, some of the uncertainty around their future plans, and what kind of work lay ahead as they prepared to finish their senior years.

Here's what they said.

Hannah Schreiber, Michigan State University

For Michigan State University senior Hannah Schreiber, the months leading up to graduation were filled with both excitement and uncertainty as she prepared to transition from college life to the professional world.

Schreiber, studying advertising management, has had a final semester full of balancing academics, extracurricular activities, and career planning.

Coming off an eventful spring break, she reflected on her packed schedule and the road ahead.

“Spring break was so fun! I started off by visiting my friend in Washington, D.C., and then made a surprise trip to see another friend at the University of Maryland, which was such a good time,” Schreiber said. “After that, I headed to New York City for a couple of days with some friends and did all the classic touristy things like going to Times Square, the Empire State Building, Chinatown, and just walking everywhere. It was a packed week, but so worth it.”

With the break behind her, she was focused on finishing the semester strong, balancing her class work, an internship and her role at 42pointSEVEN, MSU’s student-run marketing communications agency.

“It’s a lot, but I love staying busy. Plus, graduation is coming up so fast, so I’m trying to make the most of these last few months," she said.

The search for full-time positions is a waiting game. In the creative industry, hiring can be "pretty last-minute," she said, but as of spring break she was feeling positive.

“I’m really optimistic! MSU has taught me so much, and beyond that, the school has so many resources that have helped me feel prepared,” Schreiber said.

As she prepared to leave MSU, the reality of moving on is bittersweet.

“I’ve been so lucky to have an amazing community here, and I know it’s going to be hard to leave,” she said. “I’m trying to soak up as much time with friends as possible, enjoying every minute before we all go our separate ways. I have a bucket list with my friends we’re trying to finish by the end of the semester.”

— Sophia Jundy

Mohamed Diouf, Western Michigan University

Mohamed Diouf spent his spring break at home in Kalamazoo.

Halfway through the semester, he was one step closer to beginning his career as a pilot. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he grew up near the airport in Dakar, Senegal and has been dreaming of flying for a living ever since watching the planes over his city.

That’s why Diouf decided to attend Western Michigan University, which is known for its College of Aviation. It is ranked among the top in the nation and features a comprehensive program, including options in management, maintenance and flight science.

Pursuing the latter, he is currently experiencing the fluidity that comes with graduation dates in his program. He has already completed his classes and walked at graduation at the end of last semester. But he still needs to obtain his commercial pilot license before officially completing the program.

For him, this semester consisted of many hours in the air. He recently fulfilled his final training requirements and was able to schedule his commercial check ride for April. During this assessment, an examiner tests everything he learned in the program during a ground discussion and a flight portion.

After spring break, he was feeling confident about the check ride. The only thing worrying him was something he couldn't control.

“I have to hope for good weather,” he said.

The weather has not particularly been on his side during the final stretch of the program. “It can really work against you,” Diouf said. He has not been able to fly consistently during the colder months, which caused further delay in his graduation timeline.

After a long Michigan winter, Diouf wants to move outside the state.

“I want to go somewhere warm,” he said. He plans to start his career as a flight instructor to gain more experience before pursuing his dream of becoming an international airline pilot.

While focusing on his exam for now, the next step would be to seek more training to become a certified flight instructor. Diouf is considering a two-week course either in Colorado or Indiana before eventually beginning his job search. He feels confident about his career trajectory. “As a flight instructor, it should not be hard to find a job,” he said.

Diouf is excited for these next steps and is looking forward to exploring a new place. “I will probably miss the college life,” he said, which includes having his friends around and playing intramural soccer. But he will not miss having homework, that’s for sure.

— Sonja Krohn

Rania Umer, Wayne State University

In May, Wayne State University senior Rania Umer will be among the crowds of students taking graduation photos with the school’s “W” statue. While she hopes to work at a legal firm in the future, she plans to take a year off before law school. Like many seniors, she is preemptively mourning the stability that college brings.

“Ideally, I would have at least a part-time job until then, but it’s really difficult to find anything nowadays, so I am not really sure what I am going to do,” said Umer. She’s planning to spend her year off studying for the LSAT, a standardized test that is part of the law school admissions process, and applying to law schools.

Unlike students who step onto campus straight from high school, Rania's experience has been shaped by her time as a transfer and commuter student. She acknowledged the challenges of forging strong connections in a university where the majority of the student body doesn’t live on campus. "It's more lonely as a commuter student," she said.

Despite these challenges, she has found a strong support system within her professors and academic advisors. She credits Wayne State’s smaller class sizes for allowing her to build close relationships with faculty members who have helped her secure internships and research opportunities.

"I feel amazing. I am very confident that I will be able to get into the law school of my choice, simply because of the support I got from professors at Wayne State," she says. "Last semester, I was interning at the House of Representatives."

Internships are a requirement for her major, and she chose this path over studying abroad, recognizing its practical benefits for her legal aspirations. Her ambition is fueled by the mentorship she has received, along with her experience navigating higher education. She hopes to one day return to academia as a professor, providing the same level of support and encouragement she has valued in her own journey.

"I know how much it matters when you have a professor that not only cares about the student but about the subject, and is very enthusiastic about helping students. Some students are just afraid to approach professors because it is daunting. But it is something that should be more normalized and encouraged,” said Umer.

After spring break, she was focused on finishing strong. With her sights set on Oxford University and other and top law schools, she was determined to use the foundation she has built at Wayne State to launch into her next academic pursuit. Confident in her abilities and grateful for the mentorship she has received, she is optimistic about the future.

"In general, if you go up to any student at Wayne and say, ‘Hey, I kinda need help with this and that,’ there’s a 99 percent chance that they will go out of their way to help you," she says. "That’s what I’ll miss the most."

— Meg Vandermark

Mia Cotton, University of Michigan

After spring break, Mia Cotton was focused on getting through her final semester at the University of Michigan. An out-of-state student from Texas, she's getting used to the colder Michigan weather now, and was focused on preparing for her senior recital and, after that, more school.

“I want to play in a professional orchestra, but that's like getting into the NFL,” Cotton said.  So, she plans to pursue a master's degree. She described the degree as getting more experience with the flute. This has shifted Cotton's timeline, because instead of preparing for post-academic life in her final semester she was preparing for more school, and deciding between two programs.

One option was continuing into a U-M master's program, which would expand her network and performance opportunities. She was also considering another school, where she would get more opinions on her performance.

While weighing that decision, “[I] can’t really plan for after graduation,” Cotton said. She would be content with moving back to Texas, but she’s not looking forward to the logistics of moving out. Once she figures out where she’ll end up, she expects to feel more sentimental about Michigan and graduation.

“I enjoyed the social aspect,” Cotton said. Larger schools to her are fun, and one pro of staying in Ann Arbor would be still getting to see her local friends. She also enjoys the sporting events that Michigan has to offer, and she is going to miss how close everything is if she goes elsewhere.

This was her first year staying in town for spring break. Over break she made plans to rest and do some work, though she did neither. Instead, she was able to play in the regional symphony through the Michigan Philharmonic, taking another step forward in her music career.

— Kendra Conely

Read more in this series:

• At Michigan State University, large student body finds a campus steeped in tradition
• Most U-M students aren't from Michigan, but find a robust campus community in Ann Arbor
• For Wayne State commuters, a trip downtown promises campus, city life
• Ready for takeoff: How Western Michigan University trains the next generation of pilots

Do you have feedback on this article or project? Contact Detroit Free Press State Government & Politics Editor Emily Lawler: elawler@freepress.com.