The Community Foundation for Crawford County is pleased to introduce Emma Kirby, a 2024 recipient of one of the 19 Doug and Renee Leuthold Scholarship awards and one of the 20 Margaret and Donald Wenner, MD Scholarship awards.
Emma, the daughter of Jason Allen Kirby and Misti Renee Kirby, is a 2022 graduate of Crestline High School. She is in her third year of a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at Marietta College.
What is your favorite aspect of college life and why?
"I would say that I have found that my favorite aspect of college is meeting new people and making friends. I really enjoy this because it allows me to surround myself with people who are different than me, which then allows me to learn about their reasons for coming to college along with what their passions and end goals are."
What new interests or courses of study have you discovered at college?
"I wouldn't say it is a new interest, but last semester I took a course called "Banned Books" which was an English class where we essentially read banned books. I say this isn't a "new" interest, because I already enjoy reading, but within the class, we had discussion as to why the books were banned and the issues surrounding them. Although I took this course to fulfill a general education requirement, I ended up really enjoying it. I felt that the course expanded my knowledge on the topics of banned books."
In what way has the college experience changed/improved you?
"Going into my third year of college, I would say that what I have improved most in is being independent and learning how to deal with situations on my own. The first two years, I feel as though I really relied on my parents to help me. Whereas this last semester, I felt as though I would call them and tell them about a situation and how I figured it out for myself without needing their help."
What advice would you give an incoming college freshman?
"The advice that I would give to an incoming freshman is to experience as many activities as you can, whether that's sporting events, concerts, plays, or even joining a club. By going to these things, it will allow you to become more familiar with the campus and maybe help you feel more comfortable being there. Also, don't isolate yourself. Be open to meeting people and making friends because even if you don't continue to talk to one another, it will allow you to have a familiar face, and if you're ever in a situation where you feel awkward or nervous, you can go up and talk to them."
What is one item on your bucket list and why?
"One item on my bucket list is to be able to experience the Christmas tree lighting in New York City. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, so I feel as though this would be a memorable experience for me, and that it would be something I would never forget."
Congratulations and good luck in the future, Emma!
To learn more about the scholarships offered through the Foundation, visit www.cfcrawford.org/scholarships
