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Student Snapshot: Emma Ulrich '25 

As a study-abroad student in New Zealand, Emma Ulrich ’25 (sociology, creative writing) committed to saying “yes” to new experiences she might have previously been too nervous to undertake. “That led to a lot of joyful experiences,” she says, “like bungee jumping, climbing a mountain before sunrise or even just small acts of bravery, like being myself in a new group of friends.” That sense of intentional curiosity carries over into Ulrich's community-based internships, her work with nonprofits focused on social justice and mental health, and her ambitious creative-writing project, which includes community-based research. She takes a similar approach to career exploration, seizing the opportunity to connect meaningfully with alumni and other professionals across a spectrum of careers.

Hometown:

Columbia, Pennsylvania.

Major:

Sociology, with a minor in creative writing.

Clubs/organizations:

Belles Lettres Literary Society (co-president), Center for Civic Learning & Action, Quantitative Reasoning Center (tutor), The Dickinson Review (co-editor in chief), eXiled Poetry Collective and Seabirds Writing Conference.

Honors/awards:

Emil R. and Tamar Weiss Prize for the Creative Arts.

Favorite class:

My Quantitative Research Methods class with Associate Professor of Sociology Amy Steinbugler reminded me of the kind of student I can be. We practiced connecting before content: Before class, we took the time to answer non-academic questions to get to know each other. This gave me the chance to speak about what I care about in my own way, which I can have a hard time with, as a more reserved student. The structure of this class helped me feel like I belonged to a community, which made my daily class experience more fun and fulfilling.

Favorite book:

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr or Black Swan Green by David Mitchell.

Favorite place on campus:

The stone benches outside the Stern Center and East College.

On studying abroad:

I studied abroad in New Zealand! I think it was one of the first periods in my life when I felt relaxed and confident for months at a time, rather than just small moments here and there. I made a commitment to doing what I wanted to do even if I was scared. That meant that I got to have a lot of joyful experiences that I might normally say no to, like bungee jumping, climbing a mountain before sunrise or even just small acts of bravery like being myself in a new group of friends.

As a kid, I wanted to be …

… a dog dentist, millionaire, ornithologist or writer. I’d still be OK with any of those.

About my internships:

As a freshman and sophomore, I was an educational-programs intern at the local YWCA through the Community Engagement Fellowship and Dickinson’s Center for Civic Learning & Action. This two-year program matches students with local nonprofits and includes weekly meetings with other interns to reflect on their community involvement. This was my first ever job, so I was able to develop new skills deeply in a supportive environment. It also helped me feel like I was a member of the town, not just a student. I’m grateful that I got to start my Dickinson experience with such a grounding program.

I was also a program-development intern at Hempfield Behavioral Health. I synthesized research on sustainability, mindfulness, creativity, local native history and community empowerment for an elementary-school summer-camp program, co-developed camp marketing and sustainability strategies, and facilitated half-day art- and nature-based lessons.

About my research:

This year, [as the recipient of the Weiss Prize for Creative Arts,] I get to write a hybrid novella through an independent study with the creative writing department. Libraries are one of the main themes of the book, so the Bosler Memorial Library in town has helped me connect with staff, board members, volunteers and patrons to develop the story. It’s a challenging project, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to struggle through it with so many supportive, cool people by my side. Through this process, I’m learning over and over again how to trust myself.

Most important thing I’ve learned so far:

Most of the time, I feel like I don’t know anything about anything. But that’s okay, because I like to explore, and I know that connecting with how I feel and then doing what I want to do in the moment (even when I’m feeling resistant to it) leads to good things.

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Published December 18, 2024