Ema Amstutz
Year: Senior
Major: Biology (Pre-Dental)
Hometown: South Bend, Indiana
5 Questions with Ema
What activities on and off campus are you involved with?
"On campus, I am involved in the Dental Club and campus study groups for various classes. I also try to stay involved by attending office hours for my classes to form relationships with the teaching staff here at IU."
How has being a 21st Century Scholar impacted your college experience?
"Being a 21st Century Scholar has impacted my college experience so much more than I had ever expected it to. It truly is the reason that I have made it this far in my academic journey and has allowed me to continue my education without an overwhelming amount of financial stress and hardship. Aside from the financial aspect, this program has allowed me to meet other students who are in similar situations as me and has assured me that I am never alone. Being a 21st Century Scholar has provided me with resources and support when I was still trying to figure out how to manage the stress and balance of being a student here at IU. This program made the transition from high school to college so much smoother and has allowed me to put forth my best effort when it comes to classes, clubs, and anything else that I have ever wanted to be involved in on campus. I have always been able to reach out and get any questions or concerns addressed and it set the tone for my college experience and eased my anxiety since the first day that I stepped foot on this campus."
What do you hope to gain from your EARN Indiana internship with the 21st Century Scholars Program?
"From this internship, I hope to build new connections and gain insight into the "behind the scenes" work that is done within this program. I have always been on the receiving end of programs like 21st Century Scholars, so I look forward to working with faculty on the other side of things and being able to help others. I want to be able to help students figure out how to be successful in managing their many endeavors and provide advice, as I am approaching the end of my academic journey at IU and have a great deal of insight regarding the ups and downs of undergraduate studies. I hope to gain more experience in working with all sorts of people and to help others in any way that I can!"
What would you like to do after you graduate?
"After I graduate from IU, I hope to attend the IU School of Dentistry in Indianapolis. I am currently in the process of applying to dental school, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes according to plan. My overall goal is to specialize in periodontics and eventually open my dental practice. I would love to work in this field and to help people obtain the dental care that they need, regardless of their financial background."
What is a fun fact about you?
"A fun fact about me is that I taught myself to crochet over the last year, which is a great manual dexterity skill for any pre-med or pre-dental students out there."