I have learned so much about myself and the world around me
NAME: Erin Capper
CLASS YEAR: 2021
HOMETOWN: Solon, Iowa
MAJOR: Neuroscience
INVOVLEMENT ON CAMPUS: Wartburg Wind Ensemble, Flute Choir, Supplemental Instructor, Tutor for the Biology Lab, Lab Assistant, Ambassadors, Dance Marathon, and worked in Admissions
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: I was looking for a good science department, I knew I wanted to go into medicine. I wanted a school that had a good background for preparing students for medical school. The reason I was drawn to Wartburg was the idea of getting a more well-rounded education. At Wartburg, I’ve been involved in music as a member of the Wartburg Wind Ensemble, and I’m also a creative writing minor. Wartburg gave me the opportunity to keep those humanities aspects in my life, which was something I liked in high school, while still pursuing a degree in science.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON YOUR MAJOR: I knew I wanted to do something within science, because it’s usually the route people take for going into medicine. I started by looking at biology, but it wasn’t a good fit. I liked how neuroscience tied in biology, physical science, and social science, and how there were psychology requirements as well. Neuroscience is different from the other science majors like chemistry, biochemistry, biology, where I feel like it focuses more on the math side of things and statistics. I liked the whole psychology side of neuroscience because I was able to combine my interests in social science.
HOW HAS WARTBURG SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR FIELD: Wartburg has helped me succeed by preparing me with a well-rounded education. I have gained skills within academics and in the laboratory setting, as well as learning how to work with others and build those relationships to prepare me for graduate school.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: I have been accepted at a few different medical schools and am narrowing down options.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE COURSE AT WARTBURG: I’d have to say genetics. I took that class my sophomore year, and I loved how our studies focused on DNA and tiny, microscopic aspects that are kind of insignificant, but make us who we are. Learning that and then having the opportunity to shadow a clinical geneticist got me interested in medicine and helped me focus on how the things we’re learning in our courses can apply directly to patient care in the future.
HOW HAVE YOU GROWN DURING YOUR TIME AT WARTBURG: Coming into Wartburg my freshman year, I was really focused on getting good grades and doing well in my courses so that it would look good for medical school applications and stuff like that. Throughout my time at Wartburg, I’ve learned it’s not all about academics. There’s a whole lot of humanistic side to your education. I think being involved in the Wind Ensemble where we traveled to Japan or being in my writing classes helped me look at things in a new way. Over the past four years, I have learned so much about myself and the world around me and have become more observant of the people around me. I’ve grown in my outlook throughout these four years and not being so narrow minded on my own track, but looking at the big picture, which is something that is going to be important, as a doctor someday.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG MEMORY: I got to go and make music with a close group of friends on the other side of the world in Japan. Spending time over there, being emerged in the culture and learning so many new things was such an incredible opportunity that I would not have gotten if I didn’t go to Wartburg.
WHY IS WARTBURG WORTH IT: The ability to explore multiple aspects of my education and develop myself in a holistic manner.