Finding Family Away from Home

Maddie Milligan Builds Community at FranU

For many college students, moving away from home can be one of the most daunting parts of beginning a new chapter. Student Government Association Secretary Maddie Milligan experienced this challenge and used it as an opportunity to grow, finding a family at FranU.

After an injury that ended her softball career, Milligan and her mother began searching for a new path forward.

“We found out about FranU through a family friend,” Milligan said. “I went on a tour, and I felt so seen. My tour guide answered all my questions and made me feel like this was the place where I belonged.”

With a dream of following in her mother’s footsteps, Milligan enrolled in FranU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. While excited about the program, she felt nervous about living two hours away from home for the first time. 

“I love that I feel loved at FranU,” she said. “It feels like a home away from home. Being two hours away from my family is stressful at times, but there’s always someone there to step in to talk to at school.”  

Even with a strong support network on campus, Milligan said the transition was not easy and talked about the realities of being away from family. 

“It’s hard, I won’t sugarcoat that. I miss my parents, brothers and so many others every day. When I first got here, I felt as if my depression spiked,” she explained.  

Through the help of FranU’s counseling services, she learned to rebuild her confidence.

“I talked to Mrs. Lainey, our on-campus counselor, and we worked through it together. I remind myself that I’m making my family proud, and that’s what motivates me to keep going.” 

Milligan encourages other students who may be struggling with depression to take advantage of the University’s free counseling services. 

“I want them to know it's safe to talk to people at school,” she added.

As someone who lives with anxiety, the University’s small class sizes also make a difference, offering her a sense of ease and security. She found mentorship and encouragement from professors like Professor Vigee and Dr. Swafford, who pushed her to not give up in challenging courses such as Anatomy and Physiology.

“Their encouragement really motivated me to keep going even when things got tough.”

Outside of the classroom, Milligan’s leadership role with the Student Government Association helped her develop patience and trust in teamwork. 

“I’ve learned patience and how to let things fall into place instead of trying to control everything at once. I’ve always felt like things had to be done a certain way for them to feel right, but working with the SGA team has taught me to trust the process and have faith in teamwork.”

As she looks ahead, Milligan hopes to strengthen connections between students and campus leadership, ensuring every student feels heard and valued. 

“We have some big plans ahead, and I’m excited to keep building that connection between students and leadership.” 

Milligan’s story is a testament to FranU’s close-knit community. She hopes that any student who is struggling knows they are not alone and they can find belonging, even when far from home.

“Everyone on campus wants the best for you,” she said. “I would recommend a student to FranU because it truly does feel like family here.”