August 23-24, 2025: University of Michigan Studying: Kyle’s Plans

[Laterthis week, we’ll be moving my youngerson Kyle into his first-year dorm at Michigan. So this week, through proudDad tears, I’ve shared a handful of UMichigan contexts, leading up to thisspecial post on some of Kyle’s plans there!]

As thispost drops, we will likely be moving Kyle into his first-year dorm at the Universityof Michigan (the exact move-in timing will vary a bit, but you get the idea!).One of my very favorite things ever was just how much my older son Aidan’sfirst year at Vanderbilt took me by surprise, featuring so many moments andexperiences that I never could have predicted. I hope and believe that the samewill be true for Kyle, so I don’t want to spend too much time here in theprediction business; but here are three quick things I’m excited fornonetheless:

1)     Pre-law:Kyle’s professional future is of course entirely up in the air, and he’ll be hugelysuccessful at whatever he eventually figures out. But I can’t lie, I’ve beenimagining my passionately argumentative younger son as a lawyer for a longtime, and I’m excited to see how he finds the worlds of both Political Science(his incoming Major) and Pre-Law (the advising track he’s starting on). You knowI’ll keep y’all posted!

2)     Football: I included football in this week’sseries not only because it’s been such a defining part of Michigan sports and culturefor 150 years, but also because one of the most surprising and best elements ofAidan’s first year was his connection to the Vanderbilt community through theirsports successes. Everyone at Michigan talks about the first time they entered “TheBig House” with 110,000 of their closest friends, and you best believe I’mstoked to hear about Kyle’s first such experience!

3)     Community: That’s one definite way he’ll startto find and build community at Michigan. But I’m even more excited for the waysI can’t predict or even imagine yet. Last summer, Kyle took part in an ACLUsummer institute in DC, and he ended up forming a boy band with fellow attendees—thecalled themselves The Bamboo Boys and performed an incredible a cappellarendition of “I Want It That Way” for their fellow students. Whatever the futureholds for Kyle, I hope it includes many more such communal connections!

Nextseries starts Monday,

Ben

PS. Whatdo you think? Advice you’d give Kyle as he starts his Michigan journey?