Robyn Raimey will never forget the U-M student who tutored her as a child.

“In grade school, I had this tutor who was an undergraduate student at Michigan. She was so encouraging. She cared about my education. At Christmas, she gave me a Symphony chocolate bar — a gesture so thoughtful, it still makes me tear up to think about it,” said Raimey, a senior in the Marsal Family School of Education.

Raimey understands first-hand the importance of early intervention for students with learning challenges. She was identified as having a learning exceptionality in elementary school and received support through sixth grade. However, once the support ended, she struggled academically in middle and high school.

After high school, Raimey said she lacked the confidence to go straight to college full-time, instead enrolling in cosmetology school and taking a few classes at Oakland Community College, only because her mother insisted.

She soon discovered she had a talent for doing hair and, over two decades, built a thriving business as a freelance hairstylist and trainer, while simultaneously holding down an administrative office job. Her favorite part of her work was always the teaching.

“I did a lot of volunteer work and training, often working with children. So, I’ve really always been an educator,” Raimey said.

After a painful divorce, Raimey began a period of self-reflection, resulting in what she said was a “calling” to become an elementary school teacher. She closed her hairstyling business, quit her office job and went back to Oakland to complete her basic general studies courses so she could apply to bachelor’s programs in education.

She set her sights on the Marsal Family School of Education, largely because of her positive experience with the tutor who’d been a student at U-M. Raimey worked diligently to complete her classes at Oakland and stayed in regular contact with the Marsal School admissions team to ensure her application met their standards. 

Her efforts paid off when she was accepted. For Raimey, it was a dream come true, and as a student in the Marsal School, she said the staff and faculty encouragement has exceeded her expectations.

“The level of support and how they prioritize student success is exceptional,” said Raimey, citing how staff have gone out of their way to help her get the courses and credits she needs, find tutors and gain access to financial assistance.

“There wasn’t an obstacle they wouldn’t help me find a way through.”

In addition to earning her bachelor’s in elementary education with endorsements in trauma-informed practice and English as a second language, Raimey has capitalized on the many opportunities afforded to U-M education students.

She completed part of her ESL training in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and gained valuable experience through multiple internships in first-, fourth-, and sixth-grade classrooms. 

Raimey won’t go directly to the classroom after graduation, as she is staying at the Marsal School to pursue her master’s in educational studies, with a focus on design and technology.

“The program will teach me how to design a classroom — all facets of it, including technology,” Raimey said.

After completing her master’s program, Raimey will continue her path in education, guided by her passion for supporting students from marginalized and minority groups. 

“My primary goal is to develop inclusive and innovative learning environments that empower every student to reach their full potential. I believe every child can learn if they have just one person who believes in them,” Raimey said.