STUDENT STORY

“My goal is to positively impact as many people in my lifetime as I can.

I always thought I would run for office someday, but the water crisis sped up my timeline. I couldn’t sit back anymore.

As a full-time student and the youngest person to be elected to the Flint city council, you don’t get a lot of free time. But for me, I like to be constantly busy. It gives you a better idea for what is going on. It all comes down to time management.

I love what I do. I love both roles. It makes you feel even more connected and it’s made me love the city even more.

With both school and this job, you get out of it what you put into it.

My advice to to new UM-Flint students is to get involved because it’s always a learning environment in Flint. Whatever your field of study, the city has something to offer you.”

(Santino, Criminal Justice and Sociology, University of Michigan-Flint)