December Student of the Month

Scholarship: Wells Fargo, Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund
School: Northern Michigan University
Degree: Sports Science
GPA: 3.25

Community Service

• Food taster (Native American Student Association)
• Aspire Student Program (Speaker)
• NMU Walking Together Powwow 2023 (Security)

Aanii, my name is Jeffrey Andrew Bailey, I am a Sault Ste Marie Tribal member who is studying Sports Science at Northern Michigan University. My future path is to become a physical therapist and help my people with skills gained from my doctorate. As a health professional, I aim to better the lives of those who walk into my practice to improve the quality of the lives of others. This is my true nature as an Anishinaabe person. Although my legs are strong, I’m learning that true strength comes from the community standing together. I’m a young man, and I don’t know what it means to even write this. I do know that I’m not perfect and will continue to grow into the future as a positive member of the community. As the progression of my studies furthers, I hope to bring back what I have learned and share. To bring back more to my community than when I left the nest. It is difficult to be young and inexperienced but when there is trouble I know I can ask those who have walked before myself. Today, I write this to my future self to declare that I will be better than I was yesterday. I grow as the sun rises and move as the wind blows. Like the river flows downstream I hope to further our journey and add to the many conversations that have come before myself. We are Native Forward and I want to say chi-miigwech to the scholarships and everyone who is involved to make this happen. Thank you, Native Forward. 

Native Forward Scholars Fund has allowed for my survival during the semester. Being a scholar has empowered the blood rushing through my vessels to contribute to the ever-growing pool of Native professionals. Doctors, lawyers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. We all stand together, that has been proven time and time again. This is another wonderful example of how Native people support Native people to rebuild what has been and what will be. As a whole, our circle continues to spread capturing future moments of congruency and victories. That is what it means to have this opportunity, to write this response and feel a connection with those who wrote the questions/prompts and those who will read it without even meeting them. The intertwined connection that binds us as Native people. We may not all be from the same tribe and exact culture, but we are Native Forward. 

Want to be our next Student of the Month? Apply here!