SC Connecticut News

Alyssa Michel's journey at Yale University was marked by the unexpected. Upon entering the institution, she envisioned her college life as a continuation of her high school experiences. However, the freedom to explore diverse interests and opportunities transformed her perspective.

"I thought that if I swam in high school, then I would swim in college. Or if I did journalism in high school, I would have to do journalism in college," said Michel. "What I didn’t expect is that you can do whatever you want. And, especially at a place like Yale, when you do something, it becomes your baby, and you invest a lot of time into it.”

Michel arrived at Yale with an interest but no experience in podcasting. After four years working for the Yale Daily News as a staffer and later an editor, this interest evolved into a passion.

“I was able to come in with zero experience and learn how to do it,” she said. “And I fell in love with it.”

Gardening also became a significant part of Michel's life during her time at Yale. She had always maintained a small vegetable garden with her family back home in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. But when the pandemic struck in 2020, she delved deeper into gardening than ever before.

In 2022, Michel channeled her newfound love for teaching into Food Moxie, a Philadelphia nonprofit organization where she taught children about gardening.

“My number one goal in working with kids is showing them they can create something and be good at it,” said Michel. “I think we don’t talk enough about how important it is for kids to be told they’re good at things, especially underprivileged Black children.”

Food also played an essential role in shaping Michel's community interactions during her time at Yale. A traditional Jamaican hibiscus beverage based on her grandmother’s recipe proved so popular among friends that one suggested she sell it. This led to the creation of Ms. Darling’s Sorrel, a bottled beverage now sold around campus.

“The amount of encouragement that I’ve gotten from my peers and my family was super inspiring to me,” said Michel. “I love feeding people. I love labors of love. And my favorite part of this whole project is putting a smile on people’s faces.”

Currently, Michel is preparing for the MCAT with plans to apply to medical school in the fall while continuing her thesis research.

Inspired by the BBC spy thriller "Killing Eve," Michel came to Yale seeking a better understanding of the human mind, leading her to major in cognitive science and participate in two research labs. One project focused on brain stimulation as a potential treatment for substance use disorders; the other examined how history lessons can influence individuals' perceptions and relationships with Black people.

“I love how interdisciplinary you can be here,” said Michel.

As she concludes her time at Yale, Michel reflects on the impact first-year students had on her journey.

“I don’t think my senior year would be the same without my first-years,” said Michel, who served as a first-year counselor. “It’s easy to forget that Yale has so many opportunities for you to explore when you’re walking along campus every day. But they reminded me of that and I’m forever grateful to them.”