Monica Sendor

Hi everyone! My name is Monica and I am currently a third year student in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. I am working on a double major in Russian and Eastern European Studies (REES) and Psychology. I ultimately want to study cross-cultural psychology and help create public policy that focuses on bringing health services to immigrant and refugee populations. My future plans include getting a Masters Degree from the School of Public Health and then going to the University of Michigan Medical School because I love Ann Arbor so much.

So what do I do when I am not in lecture?

My first year, fall semester I participated in Michigan Pops Orchestra and performed in the Pops Goes West Concert at the Michigan Theater. Winter semester freshman year I auditioned for the Rude Mechanicals student-run theater group and performed in “Murder in the Cathedral” at the Mendelsohn Theater in the Michigan League. This year I have three jobs on campus: I work in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a student services assistant in the General Calls area answering phones and as a campus tour guide for visiting prospective students and their families. I am a Building Manager at the Michigan League. I am also a student services assistant at the Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies. This year I am one of the Reader Coordinators at St. Mary’s Student Parish in addition to sharing my talents as a musician, Newman choir member, and Sunday School teacher. I play intramural sports with my friends – soccer, broomball, wallyball, and tennis. I am a BIG Michigan Football fan and I attended my first away game this year at Notre Dame - it was AMAZING!!! This year my friends and I have great seats at the Big House - you can find us behind the Tuba section of the Michigan Marching Band.

What did I do this summer?

This summer I spent nine weeks studying abroad in Poland to improve my language skills and do preliminary research for an Honors thesis in REES - Russian and Eastern European Studies. Supported by a CRIF grant from the Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies, I was able to survey current hot topics in Poland, Eastern Europe, and the European Union, while polishing my language skills at the Jagiellonian University's Summer Program. I also had a chance to visit my family - all my relatives live in Poland - and even traveled outside the country to Budapest, Hungary and to the Czech Republic.

I hope to keep blogging regularly throughout the school year, so feel free to leave comments or questions. My next post will answer the question: Why did I chose the University of Michigan?

Thanks for stopping by! GO BLUE!