Meeting Michael

Michael Maksymowski a student at Eastern Michigan University and resident in Best Hall who can give an honest look into dorm life. This picture was taken of Michael goofing off with friends in a store while in Stratford Canada.

YPSILANTI, Mich. –  Best Hall Front Desk, this is Michael speaking how can I help you?

At Eastern Michigan University the Best Hall front desk is the center of activity on any given night in the residence hall. Between residents coming to get toilet paper, rent a game, or any other item that is offered; the desk is never short for visitors. When nightwatch, the night time security, shows up it seems as if there is a crowd at the desk, and quite often it is to talk to the person working.

Michael Maksymowski is a favorite of the residents and staff in Best Hall. With his small stature, melodic voice, and always smiling face you cannot help but love this office assistant. Residents usually associate Michael with his likeness to Waldo, who he plans to be for Halloween, and the Disney tunes which seem to be blaring out from his computer behind the desk. Because of such qualities company is always present during Maksymowski’s shifts.

Maksymowski was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich. and attended Grandville High School. He enjoys a good game of capture the flag, hates only yellow fire hydrants, prides himself on being a bookworm, loves Disney movies, and counts theater as one of his greatest passions. His dream job would be to become a free-lance journalist and theater critic in either New York or Chicago, but that’s ideal.

Maksymowski chose Eastern Michigan because of many different reasons. One being he wanted to get away from Grand Rapids, and not attend Grand Valley State University like all of his friends seemed to be doing. He also heard Eastern had one of the best journalism programs around, other than Michigan State University, New York University and Northwestern University – all of which were out of his price range. Eastern offered Maksymowski a scholarship, which helped in his decision. Of course they would offer the kid a scholarship with his 28 Advance Placement credits he already had achieved in high school.

With such a bright potential one couldn’t help but ask this promising kid what he felt he was getting out of the University and out of living here in the residence hall.

Maksymowski is a resident of the third floor of Best Hall, the loudest floor in Best and he hates it. “ Most of the residents on my floor seem really obnoxious, they are constantly loud, disruptive and immature, " Maksymowski said. "They create chaos at all hours of the night and I want half of them to get kicked out.”

That perhaps may not be the best attitude for a first year citizen in a residence hall.Yet, not all that Maksymowski has to say is bad about college resident life. He enjoys his position working at the Best Hall front desk and the people he has met because of that job, while also being a member of Leadership Advisory Board.

Maksymowski also enjoys the food at the Commons, a dining center much like a cafeteria on campus, but Maksymowski says, “ I don’t trust DC1 for any finer meats…” In spite of the bad that he has faced, Maksymowski is looking for the positive in college life.

This lively individual does at time miss the comfort of home. Maksymowski told of his need for a break from the never-ending bombardment of everything that is college life. “ I don’t have to think about school, except for homework, at home. I can empty my mind in a way”, said Maksymowski. A positive attitude with an honest heart, Maksymowski is sure to bring something unique to Best and Eastern, even if it is just a smile.