CAROLINE EMHARDT: LAW SCHOOL TO HELPING OTHERS

Sycamore School alum Caroline Emhardt (‘06) is beginning her third year of law school at Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. She enjoyed academic and athletic success at Sycamore, Park Tudor and DePauw. Now, when peers ask her, “How are you still in school?” Emhardt first considers the formative experiences that brought her to this point.

 

While in high school at Park Tudor, Emhardt noticed that Sycamore prepared her to excel academically. “I knew how to write papers and essays. My writing background was much stronger than other students. I already knew how to read and take notes from Sycamore’s 7^th and 8^th grade history classes,” she said. “Sycamore gave me a strong sense of discipline and time management. Many students went through high school without knowing how to get everything done on time. Sycamore taught me to focus and study. For me, less is more, and quality trumps quantity. This carried me through high school and beyond.”

 

Sycamore also showed Emhardt the value of extracurricular activities. Emhardt said, “I remember many of the art projects Mrs. Prince had us do in Middle School, like Egyptian head painting, Renaissance outfits, split face, pencil drawing with shading and perspective, (impressionist) artwork. Going to art class helped me to calm down and refocus, and made me a better student in all of my other classes down the hall.”

Emhardt struck that same balance in high school and college by pursuing athletics alongside her studies. Emhardt played on the Park Tudor varsity tennis team for four years. During that time, the team won two state championships. During her senior year at DePauw, Caroline was the captain of the DePauw women's tennis team and in 2014, she was a Division III Doubles All-American.

 

Emhardt said, "Having lots of interests makes me a happier, healthier person. Going to sports practice helped me manage my time and know when to get my homework done. Also, it was a stress reliever and reminds me not to worry too much about schoolwork and grades. If I study hard and stay dedicated, the grades take care of themselves. The same is true in sports. If I practice hard and stay positive, the results take care of themselves.”

 

Going forward, Emhardt hopes to use her experiences to help others. When asked, “How are you still in school?” Emhardt says, “I like school! It is a lot of work but it is manageable. And I view working in the legal profession as a privilege. Our world is a result of the decisions people make each day, and I want to be a part of that decision making process.”

 

“I want to help as many people as I can,“ she said. “Not everyone will have the tremendous educational opportunities I have had at Sycamore, Park Tudor, DePauw and at law school. I want to be a voice for the people who don't always have their voices heard.”