Pursuing a dream career of helping others

Emily Storkman is turning her passion for helping people into a career.

She first visited IUPUI knowing little about the university. After meeting with the School of Nursing, visiting the Honors College, and touring the campus she knew it was the environment that would fulfill her dreams of becoming a nurse.

“The people I hang out with in the Honors College share the same academic motivation,” Storkman says. “It provides me with good influences and role models.”

Through the Honors College, Storkman participated in a three-week summer service learning program in the Kingdom of Swaziland.

While there, she worked in hospitals and aid centers in rural areas. At an orphanage, she carried out medical screenings of children and administered medication and vitamins.

“Culturally, studying abroad made me more open-minded about people from different backgrounds and made me better at thinking through their situations so I can treat them the best way,” Storkman says.

Storkman is the founder and research chair of the nursing student branch at the IU Student Outreach Clinic, a free service that provides primary care medical services for Indianapolis’ uninsured and underserved community. 

“I feel like I’ve been very blessed and I want to give back,” Storkman says.

Storkman, recipient of the service-based Bepko Scholars and Fellows Program Scholarship, also serves as the IUPUI Regatta director of volunteers. The Regatta, a canoe relay race on the downtown Indianapolis canal, is the largest student-planned event on campus.

“Balance is so important,” Storkman says, “especially when you can get overwhelmed with so many opportunities here.”