Meet Addison Schubring. Schubring personifies what can happen when opportunity meets a desire to achieve a goal no matter the obstacle.
In many ways, her story starts in a familiar way. The Plymouth native and graduate of Salem High School headed to Western Michigan in the fall of 2018.
“I wasn’t enjoying it, so I came home the next semester,” Schubring said. “I chose Schoolcraft College because it was the best community college near me, and I figured this would be a great opportunity for me to try multiple different classes.”
In addition to the variety of classes, she found the atmosphere to be a big plus as well.
“I was lucky enough to have some really great professors,” Schubring said. “The class sizes are much smaller than a large university's, so I found it much easier to connect with my professors in a way that I couldn't at Western.”
That connection was especially important when the coronavirus pandemic hit and Schoolcraft College had to quickly transition from face-to-face classes to distance learning formats.
“I've never been a fan of online classes solely because I find myself to be more engaged when the learning is face-to-face,” Schubring said. “Initially I was stressed out from the transition, but my professors handled it very well and made the change much more manageable.”
The phrase “Being together while apart” has been heard frequently during the pandemic, and Schubring said it’s particularly important in the academic world.
“Remember to rely on your professors for help when using online/distance learning formats,” she said. “Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they're not there. They're always more than willing to assist you.”
So much so that with a bit of help from English Professor Laurie Fundukian, Schubring has been accepted to William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the country. She plans to major in English and possibly minor in economics, with an eye toward attending law school.
Fundukian sees a bright future for Schubring.
"Addison will be successful in whatever she chooses, as she is determined, organized and inquisitive,” Fundukian said. “The only struggle I see her facing is narrowing down her many interests and talents: Lawyer? Writer? Make-up designer/Mogul? Knowing her, she'll find a way to be all those and more."
Schubring is excited about her future, with fond memories of her time at Schoolcraft College.
“I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed studying at Schoolcraft,” Schubring said. “I'm a bit sad to have to leave, but I am very thankful I had the opportunity to attend such a great community college.”