Patricia Young found her future at CMU. Now she helps others find theirs.

One of life’s greatest sureties is the transience of its stages, with each stage having its moment before giving way to the next. 

Sometimes, moments are so powerful as to generate the desire to cling to them, before finally giving way to the passage of time. 

Short of giving way completely, some become advocates for others to have a similar experience. At the encouragement of such advocates, many people experience life-defining moments that would otherwise pass them by. 

Patricia Young is one such advocate.

Young first moved to Mt. Pleasant from Saginaw as a student at Central Michigan University (CMU). Now, having lived in Mt. Pleasant for longer than she lived in her hometown, Young considers Mt. Pleasant her home. 

A large part of the reason for Young’s shift in what she considers “home,” is CMU. Young’s experience at CMU had such a profound effect on her that not only did she decide to stay in the area, but she now works at the university as the director of undergraduate recruitment/admissions. 

“[At] undergraduate admissions, we are the frontline office. We get to help people find their passion and change their lives, just as CMU helped me change my life,” says Young. 

For Young, her daily work comes easily and authentically, as she genuinely believes in the mission—having been in the same position as the prospective students she works with.

“I tried dabbling and working at another institution, but I struggled with it mentally,” she shares. “I know I could do a good job anywhere, but I love CMU, and that’s the difference. You can go through the motions, or you can genuinely believe in what you’re doing, and I believe in the work we do. I want this place to be successful.”

True belief in a mission or objective is rarely born of a straightforward journey, but rather a path that has its share of hardship and trials. Young is no exception to this.

On her journey, she says, “Every kind of hurdle that you could imagine, whether it’s being a first-gen [college student], low income, or underrepresented, that was the box I was supposed to be in. I was able to get outside of that box because of CMU.” 

Young reflects on the value of being able to overcome those hurdles, saying, “I think back to when I was that 17-year-old. I had no money, and I had no idea what I was going to do. Then CMU changed my life. And my kids will never know the struggles. They have two parents who have college degrees, and they live in a wonderful community. They will never have to go through the things that I had to. That makes me appreciate CMU that much more.”

It’s easy to see why Young is so passionate about the university, given her story. She brings this same passion to her job on a daily basis. 

“In three out of the last four years, we were able to bring in a larger freshman class than the year before. That doesn’t happen by accident,” Young says. “That happened through us working hard and doing all that we can. We are willing to try new things, willing to be brave and see something through, and keep finding wins.”

In a role such as Young’s, it can be easy to get caught up in the numbers and begin worrying about things that are beyond any one individual’s control. However, Young has a grounding effect that keeps her team focused. 

“If you asked any of my team members what I always say, it would be ‘focus on what we can do,'” she says. 

By taking each challenge as it comes, Young keeps her team focused on helping as many students as they can to navigate their paths to higher education. 

“We might not be able to call 1,000 students, but I know we can call 10. [You have to evaluate] what you can do each day to help the student in front of you. I want to do the best I can for that particular student,” she shares. 

For Young, coming full circle to help prospective students attend the same university that gave so much to her has value beyond just a career. 

“I care so much about the success of this institution and the success of this town. It is truly a privilege to work for such a wonderful institution and live in a great community. I didn’t have that type of community growing up, so it is a privilege,” she explains. “I take what I do very seriously, and I intentionally show up to do the best I can.”