Sydney Schloemer | Student

Making Connections

No matter what activity Sydney Schloemer ’26 has found herself doing at DePauw, her ultimate goal has always been the same. “The common thread through everything is making connections,” she says. “Whether it’s living in the same house or enjoying the same things or sharing the same faith — making those connections is the basis of learning more about each other and creating friendships and valuing each other.”

In the classroom, Schloemer has done just that. As a psychology major with a minor in English writing, she greatly enjoys the relational nature of her education. “Having personal connections with all my professors has been wonderful, because that creates honest conversation and good advice,” she says. “With such small class sizes, I feel more comfortable engaging and asking questions, which I don't think is something I would do if I were in a larger setting.”

Schloemer has also found connections through her involvement in spiritual life on campus. She is the vice president of Grounded, a student-led Christian fellowship, and she serves as a Gobin Chapel Intern as well. “As cliche as it sounds, it has made me realize that I am not alone. We’re all prioritizing and working through things together. Where do I fit in? Where does my faith fit in? Having those conversations and listening to other people has allowed me to make my faith very personal. And I've definitely been able to grow in it on a very independent level.”

On top of all this, Schloemer is actively involved in Greek life at DePauw — both as a member of Pi Beta Phi and as the president of the Panhellenic Council. “It's been a huge part of my experience,” she says. “I can't really imagine my experience without it. Surrounding myself with my friends all the time — it's helped me to become a better leader, a better listener and a better friend.”

Being a part of Greek life has also given Schloemer a passion to confront common stereotypes and misconceptions. As someone who didn’t even plan to join a sorority when she first came to DePauw, she now wants others to know a simple yet often overlooked truth: women are always worth supporting.

“I think we do a good job of supporting each other, but we can always continue to recognize and celebrate each other,” she explains. “Something that I wanted to do in my time here was to get rid of that stereotypical sorority woman so we could get people to focus instead on our academics, on what we're doing outside of school and the many ways that we're engaging in our communities. Those things make up a huge part of who we are on campus.”

As Schloemer looks ahead toward her future and a career in forensic psychology, she’s grateful for how her many connections at DePauw have expanded her horizons and deepened her relationships with others.

“Coming here, I have learned that diversity allows me to listen to people and understand their values and ways of life, both in religious and non-religious settings. It has definitely made me a more well-rounded, more empathetic human being. Experiencing that has been very special.”