In this series, Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences spotlights distinguished members of the Class of 2022 from a wide range of disciplines.

Ellen Fiedler ’22 was recognized this spring with the Outstanding Senior Award from the Department of Human Service Studies.

This fall, Fiedler will enroll in the Master of Social Work program at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Fiedler became involved with the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life early in her freshman year and says the experience defined her college experience.

“I was a multi-faith intern during my sophomore and junior years, during which time I was responsible for the design, planning, and execution of Truitt Center events and programs,” Fiedler said. “I served as the 2020 Ripple Interfaith Conference Special Events Coordinator and 2021 Social Media Coordinator, and promoted the Truitt Center through social media, photography, and creating promotional materials throughout four years that I have worked here.

“The people I met at the Truitt Center, both peers and mentors, are people who I know will stay in my life long after I graduate. My time there is this who made Elon my home away from home,” Fiedler said.

How did you choose your Human Services Studies major?

I want people to feel seen, not just for who they are in the moment, but for how every experience they’ve had, every system that’s affected them, and every hope they have for the future shaped them. I want this to be my job.

Did you have a mentor or a teacher who played an important role in your Elon experience?

Professor Monica Burney taught three of my Social Services Studies classes, was my academic advisor, and has been my mentor since my sophomore year. She pushed me to have confidence in my abilities as a student and a future social worker. I wouldn’t be on the path I am on now without his guidance and support. Having a teacher that I feel I can confide in about my insecurities, fears, and dreams for my future has been a crucial part of my Elon experience.

What advice would you give to first-year students?

College doesn’t have to be the best four years of your life. There will be times when you feel this is the case. But there will also be moments that make you think, “Is this really it?

For me, college wasn’t the best four years of my life, but it was definitely the most formative. I grew as a student, as a leader, and as a human being more than I thought possible at Elon. This growth hasn’t always been easy or pretty, but it’s the reason I’m the person I am today. Embracing growth is also embracing difficulty. College can be a wonderful experience, but it’s not the pinnacle of your wonderful life.