Marissa Mills is a public relations major at Michigan State University with minors in business, film studies and screenwriting. Originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan, she is expected to graduate in spring 2027.

Growing up green

For many Michigan State students, becoming a Spartan begins when they step onto campus. For me, it started long before I ever applied to the university. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in MSU traditions, I spent my childhood attending games, tailgating on campus and wearing green and white.

My family are longtime MSU fans. My dad came to Michigan State from out of state, fell in love with the school and carried that Spartan pride into our home. For 20 years, fall weekends were shaped by football tickets, basketball games and tailgates in the same spot every Saturday. It became our routine: Wake up early, pack the car, head to the same tailgate spot at the corner of Farm and Shaw lanes, and prepare for the game ahead.

Throughout my life, I thought I knew MSU. I had walked around the stadium more times than I could count, worn green and white since I was a baby and spent countless weekends on campus. But I had no idea how much more MSU had in store for me.

A family tradition

My family doesn’t just support MSU; they live it. Sparty was even at my parents’ wedding, which set the tone for my childhood. My sister and I wore tiny cheer uniforms before we could walk, and our baby photos are basically a timeline of green and white outfits. My dad’s office looks like a mini MSU museum, filled with old game day memorabilia and Spartan gear.

So when it came time to choose a college, MSU felt like the obvious choice, even if no one in my family said it out loud.

My older sister considered other schools but chose MSU at the last minute. That decision shaped my own. I only applied to two schools: one close to home and Michigan State.

When we toured campus before my senior year of high school, I remember thinking, “Why are we doing this? I’ve been here my whole life.” But once we stepped beyond the stadium area, I realized how wrong I was. The river trail, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and the academic buildings I had never heard of made campus feel bigger than I had ever imagined.

Seeing MSU with new eyes

Moving here as a student changed everything. I found buildings I had never seen, programs I didn’t know existed and communities that made this huge university feel personal. I learned how different campus feels on a random Tuesday compared to a game day — quieter, slower, but full of its own energy.

I found my own study spots, my own routes and my own people.

That’s when I realized being a Spartan isn’t just about traditions. It’s about finding your place in a community that somehow feels like home, even if you’ve been walking its sidewalks your whole life.