July 2014 Student Spotlight

Earlier this month we heard from Cindy Nelson-Pouget, Life Skills Coach at the Mpowering My Success program at the University of Michigan-Flint. She shared with us the story of student and scholar, Alexis L. We then asked Alexis a few questions....Get to know Alexis L.!

FSM: Please tell us about your accomplishments thus far?
AL: I work at Dort Federal Credit Union as a teller and also I have an internship as an accounting assistant for Uptown Developments, LLC in the Mott Foundation building.  I am currently an accounting major and on the Deans list at the University of Michigan-Flint.

FSM: What do you hope to do after graduation? Do you have a specific area of passion?
AL: After graduation, I would like to obtain my CPA and work for a larger accounting firm.

FSM: What can professionals do to better serve students with experience in foster care?
AL: As for what professionals can do for foster youth, I would say that the more resources they can provide the better. Foster youth are inadequately provided with resources for all areas of their lives; this is especially apparent with education. This actually ties into my advise for what I would give other foster youth thinking of college.

FSM: What advice do you have for students thinking about going to college?
AL: I would definitively suggest seeking out at least one person who they can trust to give them adequate information or can direct them to an individual who will be able to. Students need to fully take advantage of scholarships, mentoring programs, and career advising to ensure that they are on the right track and getting what they need. I have my entire college career paid for through scholarships, because I took the time to advocate for myself and I found others who were able and willing to do that for me also.