Mikaela Gustafsson: 2016 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Outstanding Graduating International Student

What difference has UMaine made in your life and in helping you reach your goals?

UMaine has made a huge difference in my life. Freshman year I was able to explore a lot of different areas within my academic field to find the right major for me. Interacting with other students and the faculty has helped me find the areas that interest me the most and has given me a better idea of the career path I want to take in the future.

Basketball has been huge for me, the support that the UMaine community has for women’s basketball is exceptional and it has allowed me to connect with people and different organizations in Maine. Being a student-athlete has also taught me a lot about responsibility, time management, leadership, teamwork and what it means to work hard.

Have you had an experience at UMaine that has changed or shaped the way you see the world?

The diversity on our campus has allowed me to interact with people who come from very different backgrounds and it has definitely helped me to expand my view on the world. Once again, basketball has been huge factor for me and my experience here — it has taught me to appreciate the fact that I get to play basketball and represent the school every time I step on the floor and it has also taught me to be thankful for the opportunity I got to earn a free education through a academic scholarship.

Why UMaine?

Basketball was my number one reason for coming here, but hearing about the close-knit community and the academic opportunities definitely helped. The size of the school and the location felt like a perfect fit for me. When I came to visit in June 2012 I was able to have lunch with the previous UMaine president and his wife at my coach’s house and that was a really cool experience. The fact that it had a similar climate to what I was used to in Sweden also played a role. I felt at home at UMaine from the first day I stepped my foot on campus.

How would you define the opportunities for student success at UMaine? Is there any particular initiative, program or set of resources that helped you succeed?

My experience in the Sociology Department at UMaine has been great. The faculty offer students great support and are willing to help. My first year I used the advising services from the College of Liberal Arts and Science and my adviser there was great in helping me to figure out what major was going to be the right fit for me. As I student-athlete I have to stress the academic support services and the greatness of their staff in helping student-athletes succeed while balancing busy schedules. They have been my rock in helping me balance schoolwork with practices and travel schedules.

Have you worked closely with a professor or mentor who made your UMaine experience better?

Laurie Cartier in the Sociology Department has been a great resource for me. The classes that I have taken with Dr. Steve Barkan and Dr. Kyriacos Markides have resulted in greater knowledge, interest and passion for the field of sociology. Also, Ann Maxim from the Student-Athlete Academic Support Center has encouraged me to stay on top of my game and study hard.

What advice do you have for incoming students to help them get off to the best start academically?

First, make sure that you find a field that truly interests and intrigues you because that will make your four years so much easier and interesting. If you are an international student whose first language is not English it can be frustrating at first — but be patient and stay focused and before you know it things will get a lot easier. Study hard and do not settle. Find out when and where you study the most efficiently, my favorite spots are the library and the Memorial Union. Make the most out of your time in college but make sure to prioritize and stay on top of your schoolwork because it will pay off.