Cross county connections: Meet Skylyr Zink

I'm the College Adviser serving Coleman and Meridian schools through AdviseMI as a part of the Michigan College Access Network. 

I'm originally from Manchester, Michigan, a small town about 20 minutes southwest of Ann Arbor. It's tiny and super rural, and we just got reclassified from a village to a town, which is big news for us! The population is around 2,000, and it's one of those close-knit places where everyone knows each other.

I played football for Albion College for four years. My football journey started in third grade when we transitioned from flag football to tackle football. I hadn't done flag football—I was into soccer then—but when third grade rolled around, I jumped into tackle football. The only catch was that Manchester didn't have a youth program, so we had to go to Clinton, about 20 minutes away. It was interesting because we had teams of Manchester and Clinton kids, all under one organization.

I played in Clinton from third through sixth grade, then went on to middle school football in seventh and eighth grade. During my freshman year, I started on the JV team, and by the end of the season, I was one of the players brought up to help with the varsity playoff run. Then, sophomore year, I became a varsity starter. Now, I'm thrilled to give my gift of football skills and leadership as one of the coaches for Meridian's varsity program. 

Growing up, I was blessed with a fantastic family. My dad traveled a lot for work, so my mom and older brother helped a lot with getting us around. I have a younger sister, too. My family always encouraged me, and we traveled as much as possible, which is one of my strengths—especially coming from a small town.

I know people who've barely left our area, but I've been to many states and even some places outside the country. It gives me a different perspective, which helps me connect with people. We grew up on 14 acres with plenty of space to run around, hunt, and fish.

In high school, I was involved in just about everything—I was class president all four years, played three sports (football, basketball, and baseball), and even tried wrestling my senior year. I was also in the marching and concert band, drama club, and NHS.

When it came to college, I initially dreamed of going to U of M, but I was deferred for early action and ultimately didn't get in. By then, I knew I wanted to play college sports, so I refocused on small schools where I'd have that chance. I narrowed it down to Kalamazoo and Albion and ultimately chose Albion, where I thrived. My high school counselor once told me that she thought I'd do well at a smaller school, and I'm grateful for that advice because it's exactly what happened. 

At Albion, I got involved in so many activities, especially during my junior and senior years. I majored in political science with minors in German and philosophy and was part of one of the institutes there. That's what I loved about the liberal arts experience—getting to explore so many areas. My Fiancé, who's from Sault Ste. Marie, MI, had a similar busy schedule, and after college, we decided to move together when she got accepted to grad school at Central Michigan University. We've been building our life here ever since.

My own experience inspired my journey into advising. I had a scholarship from a financial planning group in Ann Arbor that provided college advising, and I met with them monthly from eighth grade until senior year. They guided me through resume-building, college searching, and application processes, and that kind of support was invaluable. I realized how much that process shaped me and that it wasn't something everyone could access.

I've seen firsthand the gaps in college and career guidance, especially in rural areas like where I grew up. I want to help bridge that gap for students. When I found my current job in college advising, I was initially told no positions were open in my area, but I didn't give up. I reapplied the following year and was the first applicant in the new cycle. Now, I'm helping students find their paths and opportunities, which is incredibly rewarding.

As an adviser, I feel like I have a 'magic key'—the experience and tools to help open doors for these students. They're capable of achieving so much, but many doors remain closed without the right support. Working with other advisors and organizations, primarily through partnerships like the Midland Area Career College Access Network, has been eye-opening.

We host events like college application days and financial aid nights. I always encourage students to apply for scholarships through the Midland Area Community Foundation, which is their best chance at getting financial support.

In terms of what I'd love to see for Midland County, I think it's all about creating a culture of career and college access that everyone is invested in. Right now, it seems like Coleman and Sanford don't always necessarily feel connected to the larger Midland County schools.

I'd love to see stronger community connections where everyone feels equally supported. It's a work in progress, but we're making strides. That collective impact—everyone working together to help our students' futures—is what I'm passionate about.