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Student Spotlight:
Laura Ucrós Téllez & Nakshidil Sadien

Laura Ucrós Téllez

Expected Graduation Year: 2017

Major/degree: Business

Home state/country: Bogota, Colombia

Nakshidil Sadien

Expected Graduation Year: 2015

Major/degree: Political Science and Sociology

Home state/country: Caoldyne, Mauritius

Why did you originally decide to study at Michigan?

Laura Ucrós Téllez: My dad came to the university to [study] cardiovascular surgery, and I grew up listening to him talk about Michigan, his professors, and mentors. He had a football, which was weird because we don’t play American football in Colombia, but he had this football with a block M in his room, and also flags and other Michigan gear, but I never really understood what that was all about. When I was looking at colleges, I knew I wanted to come to the States, and when I visited the U-M campus, I just fell in love. It was a very, very easy decision. At the same time, I knew I wanted to study business, so I went to Ross and heard so many amazing things about the faculty, the people, the action-based learning, and I was really just drawn to it.

Nakshidil Sadien: My story is a little different -- I had no clue where I was going, so I took a gap year after high school and worked for my dad. He had investments in Lapeer [Michigan] at the time and my brother was studying in the States, so my dad wanted me to go to school in the States as well. Since he was investing in Michigan, he thought it would be nice for me to go to a school in Michigan, too. The plan was for me to apply to U-M Flint and then transfer to the Ann Arbor campus to study law. I did apply and I did go to U-M Flint -- I just never left! I got so involved on campus, and the support system I got there as an international student was phenomenal. And at Michigan as a whole, I have cultivated a sense of pride and belonging -- it’s like your home away from home -- and you kind of feed into the buzz that comes with the University of Michigan. You’re part of something bigger, this huge network that bonds you together, and as an international student, you find comfort in that.

What do you like most about being on campus?

LU: Everything! I love the people at Michigan, I love going around campus and seeing people wearing so much Michigan gear -- that’s not something that happens at home, universities don’t even have gear. Just that pride in being a Michigan alum and being able to say ‘I went to the best university in the world.’ Anyone who knows me can tell you how proud I am to be here at the University of Michigan and how eager I am to be able to give back as well. I’m very proud to be part of the largest alumni network in the world, and I think that Michigan definitely exemplifies the "leaders and best" -- in every single field, Michigan has someone that is the leader and the best.

NS: I love the fact that you’re surrounded by people who are constantly pushing you to be the best you can be and force you to explore your potential. When you’re among a group of elite leaders, you really have to push yourself further -- intellectually, emotionally, physically -- and that’s something you don’t necessarily get everywhere. Knowing that you’re going to have to constantly strive and achieve for the best is something I take huge pride in. Without that sense of competition and constant push, I don’t think I would ever have done half the things that I’ve done during my time at the university.

LU: One of the things I like the most about Michigan is its history, but at the same time its sense of the future. There’s so much history, even just being in the buildings on campus, but Michigan is a legacy. It feels amazing to be part of that legacy and to know that people in the future are going to see us as alumni, and as the inspiration that we feel right now.

What plans do you have for after you graduate?

NS: That’s a tricky one. I graduate in December, and my ultimate goal is to work for the United Nations. I want to go to grad school for International Relations, maybe get my master’s in public policy and get my JD at the same time. If not, possibly take some time off, get some work experience, and explore more job opportunities. I really want to be able to use that time after graduation to cultivate who I am as a young professional, and as a human being who is part of this planet -- that’s something that’s really resonated with me during my time in the Development Summer Internship Program (D-SIP): understanding where you stand in relation to others, where you want to go, and what role you have to play. Without the D-SIP program, and all of the experiences that I’ve had at the University of Michigan, I don’t think I would consider taking the time off to cultivate me.

LU: I can’t wait to start working, and I can’t wait to utilize my Michigan alumni network. I’m most eager about using my education to make the world a better place. I’m open to going anywhere -- literally anywhere around the globe -- and wear with pride that block M, showing people what Michigan has taught me.

What would you say to a prospective student from your hometown that is thinking about applying to Michigan?

LU: I’ve actually had a couple of people reach out to me, and I always tell them it’s the best decision they can make. More than a university, it’s a life experience -- Michigan is a teacher in life. It helps you expand professionally and in the classroom, but also personally -- you have so many different cultures, different people, so much to learn about, but you also learn about yourself as well. Whatever field you want to get into, Michigan is the right place for you.

NS: Buckle up, because it’s a lifelong commitment! And just go for it, because the opportunities you’re going to get here in terms of personal and professional development and exploration within your field are unparalleled. You’re surrounded by some of the best professors in the world, and the wealth of information they can impart to you is going to benefit you in ways that you probably would never have been able to imagine. Don’t think twice, just go for it. As daunting as it may be -- don’t look back!

LU: Also, be prepared for the challenge. From the academic perspective, you’re not going to have easy days, but every day is going to be worth it, and every single day you’re going to grow.

How did you hear about D-SIP?

LU: I heard about D-SIP in an ad on [the Michigan website]. I clicked on it, read everything on the blog, and decided to apply. One of the things that caught my eye is that it was so closely related to the University of the Michigan. I’m going to be tied to Michigan for life, and it’s great to have the opportunity to work for the university and give back to Michigan through my work. I’m also very passionate about philanthropy and being able to learn more about development as a career has been great. I also really like the transferable skills we’re learning, they will definitely help in whichever field I decide to go into.

NS: I attended an information session on campus and met with a recruitment officer for the Student Success Center, and as we were talking about my summer plans, she told me I should apply for D-SIP. Later she sent me a bunch of information and really wanted me to apply to represent the Flint campus. One thing that really struck me was the depth of the work I’d be getting through the projects I’d be working on. The skills that I’d get in one summer’s time were incredible and were definitely appealing to me -- the fact that I could go through one program and come out of it so well-rounded.

What kinds of projects are you working on?

LU: I’m working for the U-M Health System. I’m working on revising their current stewardship practices, and I’m developing an automated stewardship practice for their annual giving program.

NS: I’m working on developing a faculty, staff, and retiree [giving] model for U-M Flint.

Do you see yourself working in philanthropy in the future?

LU: I don’t know if I see myself working in philanthropy, but I can see myself involved in philanthropy, hopefully as a philanthropist. It would be an honor to be a philanthropist. I definitely know that I need to give back because I have received so much. Sometimes you don’t realize it because it's not a tangible thing, but it’s worth so much more.

NS: Philanthropy is so beautiful because it touches the core of what it means to be human. It’s the ability to give and receive, and to know how to do it. It’s something that appeals to me, and it’s definitely something I will have a hand in.

Anything else you’d like to share?

LU: Everyone needs to remember how great the University of Michigan is and how much we owe to Michigan for who we are. No matter what we do, we’re always going to have a little bit of Ann Arbor in our hearts.

NS: This is our home away from home, I can’t stress that enough. What you do from here onwards, especially in terms of staying connected to the university, giving back in some shape or form, ultimately affects us as students, ultimately affects the professors, and ultimately affects the system as a whole. Unless we continue to engage with one another, whether it's during our time here or after, we’re not going to be able to sustain what we have and what’s at our core. Our ability to grow and expand our networks once we’ve left is our biggest strength.

LU: The community is so powerful, and what makes it powerful is each individual being able to give back and support one another. We’re a huge community in the world and we have a lot of power, a lot of knowledge, and we should help each other.

NS: You can’t expect to be the best at something without the support and collaboration of others. You are a part of the University of Michigan -- now and forever.

If you’d like to contact Laura or Nakshidil, please use the email listed below.

Laura: lucros@umich.edu

Nakshidil: nsadien@umflint.edu