Endless Curiosity
Theatre. Neuroscience. Creative writing. True crime. Dance.
Marielle Gearding ’27 has no shortage of interests in her life. The only problem is finding a way to fit them all in. “There are so many things I really like, it can be hard picking which one to follow through with,” she says. “If I could, I would have 14 different professions. I wish life was longer, so I could do everything.”
The liberal arts experience at DePauw has allowed Gearding the opportunity not only to maintain her many interests, but to expand them. She has performed in multiple stage productions on campus, including Romeo and Juliet at Bridgerton, Into the Woods and Vinegar Tom. She has taken on the role of creative director for X-Cell Dance Team, utilizing the years of expertise she’s acquired since starting dance at the age of three. And she is currently pursuing a neuroscience major, fueling her fascination with how the human mind works and interacts with the world.
It may seem like a disparate assortment of activities, but Gearding sees numerous points of connection between them. Take the writing she does for “Her Campus” for example. “I enjoy creative writing,” she explains – so much so that when she was in kindergarten, her mother predicted that she would become a writer. “But I think it ties to my interest in neuroscience. I love the idea of building character structures and plotlines.”
Gearding also hopes that she will soon be able to incorporate her passion for theatre into her academic work. “I’ve been talking about doing a research project on method acting and how it affects the brain. How do method actors take on a whole new identity, even to the point where they can sometimes lose themselves in the process? This question ties together two very different interests of mine.”
In addition to providing an outlet for her full range of interests, Gearding’s experiences at DePauw have also opened the door to new connections and a deeper sense of community. “Getting involved in different things has become a way for me to meet new people,” she says. “It’s been helpful for me to step outside my comfort zone.”
As a natural introvert, Gearding has found these new connections to be emboldening and an important part of her personal development. “I would consider myself a more social person now than I was when I first came here. I’ve gained a sense of independence. I’m able to be more myself.”
