Parents play major role in CMU students' lives
Parents. They are arguably the most influential people in their children's lives.
Paul Wiercinski said his parents have definitely helped shape who he is today.
"I think as you grow up you realize you are what your parents are and that they mold you. You realize that once you move away and live on your own," said Wiercinski, Grand Rapids sophomore.
"I view my mom kind of as my best friend. We've been involved in so many things, from mother-daughter jazz dance class to Girl Scouts," said Stefanie Lapenta, Lavonia senior.
Wiercinski said going away to college lends to understanding parents.
"You realize what they've done for you, ... how hard it is to raise kids."
Melissa Pieratt, Mount Pleasant junior, said she has gained respect for her mother since starting college.
"I realize more how much she's done for me and how I took her for granted before. She's an astonishing woman, raising two daughters on her own."
Casey Tidman said her relationship with her parents has improved since she left for college.
"We get along a lot better. I guess, maybe, because I don't see them as much. Maybe because I have grown up too, I see their points of view," said Tidman, Pinckney freshman.
Anna O'Malley's relationship with her parents has gotten better as well.
"I used to fight with them in high school all the time. Now we're like friends I guess," the Rochester freshman said.
Katie Sorensen, Ishpeming freshman, said her parents are understanding and accepting, but still "curious."
"They accept who you are and they trust you and yet they still want to know what's going on because our generation is so different," she said.
Holly Koern, St. Joseph senior, said her relationship with her parents now is much stronger than when she was younger.
"I respect their parenting decisions more so now that I'm in college. I can see the reasons why they've chosen what they have for my future."
Jody Gagnier, Gaylord junior, said since attending college, the way she views her mother has changed a little.
"I see a lot of the faults of my mother I never saw before, weaknesses I never knew she had," Gagnier said.
Gagnier said it would be life-changing for her to lose her mother.
"It (would) be very difficult. It would be like a part of me (was) missing. It would be like losing my best friend."
Moonga Ndulo, a freshman from Zambia, South Africa, said he's in touch with his parents most of the time even though communication can be expensive.
"It's nice to hear their voices on the phone," he said, although he mostly communicates with his parents by e-mail.
Ndulo said his view of his parents has not changed since he's been in college.
"They are the way parents are supposed to be," Ndulo said.
Lapenta said she e-mails her mother every day.
"I wrote her a letter to say thank you. I go to her with everything," Lapenta said.
Melissa Miller, Mount Pleasant senior, said her parents have been there for her in every crisis she's had.
"They have been excellent parents," Miller said. "They've supported me in every decision I've made."
Miller said she buys gifts for her parents on occasion and she just had senior pictures taken for them but, "spending time with them is the biggest gift I can give them.
"I have a great relationship with both my parents."
Sarah Lange, Lakeview freshman, said even though she tells her parents more about her life than she used to, "sometimes I feel like I can't talk to them."
Lange's parents have been married about 32 years, she said.
"I think they have a pretty strong relationship, but sometimes the only way they can settle disagreements is by yelling, which isn't cool," Lange said.
Koern said her parents' 27-year marriage is very strong.
"They have great clarity to their relationship. I have great respect for their relationship."
Steve Bindle, Sterling Heights junior, said his parents have been married for 30-some years and are best friends. He views their marriage as the "model marriage, the way I want my marriage to be, basically."
"I will always have infinite love for them," he said.
Aaron Saari said his parents' 35-year marriage has been centered around God and family.
"They don't make decisions apart from their family and each other and God. I wouldn't change anything about my parents. Everything's perfect."
Saari, a second-year graduate student from White Pine, said even though neither of his parents attended college, all of their children have.
"I guess they just felt that it was really important for their kids to have an education. They made their children set priorities as far as education," he said.
Thom Ouwinga, McBain sophomore, said he thinks his parents are excellent parents.
"I've come to appreciate them more (and) the things they've given up."
He views their 25-year marriage as pretty good.
"I guess they don't go out or anything. They're just an old married couple," Ouwinga said.
