Michelle Spencer, from Utah State University, reflects on her experience at Summer Institute 2025:
I loved attending Summer Institute. I am new to the world of financial aid. I was a little nervous when, just 4 months into the job, I was going to be sent to a conference, but excited about the learning and growth opportunities it would bring. I am so grateful that my university sent me for that experience! I learned so much and loved sharing what I did know with those around me. It really helped me to gain confidence in the work I was doing.
I love meeting new people and making connections, so I jumped into all the activities and really enjoyed getting to know so many people from different states and Institutions. They did a great job of providing opportunities to network and create friendships if you took the time and made the effort. I think my favorite night was the free night. I was so nervous at first. Not having access to a car puts me out of my comfort zone. Fortunately, I sat at lunch with a group I had been with for an activity the night previous and 2 of the women had cars! We had so much fun at the Art Museum, the Botanical Gardens, and out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Having that down time was such a great way to build friendships and really get to know some wonderful women in my field!
One of my biggest takeaways from the week was that certain things are campus specific, and others are Federal regulations, and it can be all too easy to mix the two up, especially when you are new. I rethought through some of the things I had assumed were set in stone and realized I had more flexibility than I thought. It was an important distinction, and I am glad it was brought to my attention early on.
My favorite session was the one where we talked about work life balance. It was great to have at the end of the week when we had gotten comfortable together as a class and were able to be a little more open. We talked about setting boundaries, avoiding burnout, and how to take care of yourself in a field that can be demanding. It was so nice to talk to people who knew my work so well! Even though our institutions varied vastly in size and structure, we were all doing similar things and those connections were invaluable.
I would highly recommend attending Summer Institute, especially to those who are new to the world of financial aid, although there are many levels to be able to work through. The networking connections that are available, the training that is presented in a fun and engaging way, and the leadership and service opportunities explored helped me to make goals with my career in ways that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. We can always study policies and regulations in front of a screen, but being in a class with people at our own level in training promotes an elevated learning experience. Beyond the professional experience, being around a group of people who understand my work and who I could just get to know socially as well was a very rewarding experience!
