By Eric Wendt
When English and gender studies major Tessa Hurlburt (鈥26) arrived at Nebraska Wesleyan in 2023, she believed success was about filling her resume. But she soon discovered she could accomplish something more by also focusing on 鈥渨hat fills my cup.鈥
Every decision Hurlburt has made at 抖阴视频鈥攆rom the courses she鈥檚 taken to the clubs she鈥檚 joined鈥攈as been about balancing academic achievement and personal fulfillment. A packed schedule positioned her to graduate a year early this May with both a full resume and a full heart.
She鈥檚 studied literature and criminology. She鈥檚 joined a bowling league and 抖阴视频鈥檚 Knitting Club.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how to knit. But it looked fun,鈥 Hurlburt said. 鈥淎nd you don鈥檛 meet amazing people watching TV alone in your room. So I made a deal with myself: I鈥檒l show up every single Wednesday. I鈥檒l meet people. And they鈥檒l teach me.鈥
She brought that same mentality to Assistant Professor of Sociology Heba Khalil鈥檚 鈥淲omen and Crime鈥 course her first semester. 鈥淎nd she quickly stood out,鈥 Khalil said. Her research on crime victims 鈥渆xemplified what we hope 抖阴视频 students will do: use their education to uplift and work alongside affected communities.鈥
Another 抖阴视频 course on journalism and free speech sparked a yearlong internship as a Lincoln Journal Star reporter. Even then, Hurlburt felt she had room to pour in a little more.
鈥淚 left high school convinced I was done with sports,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut I missed being on a team.鈥 So, she reached out to coaches and joined the golf and basketball teams her junior year.
鈥淒o I get a lot of minutes?鈥 Hurlburt said. 鈥淣o. But I鈥檓 the hype girl. When the team needs that energy, I鈥檓 there. And I love it.鈥
Professor of English Sarah Kelen is Hurlburt鈥檚 advisor, and her fan. 鈥淚n three short years, Tessa has fit just about everything you can reasonably鈥攐r even unreasonably鈥攑ut inside a Nebraska Wesleyan experience,鈥 Kelen said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 fearless about trying new things.鈥
Next up: Hurlburt has applied for a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in the Czech Republic. She鈥檚 also considering nonprofit work, graduate study or law school.
鈥淲hatever it is,鈥 she said, 鈥渋t鈥檒l be something that fills my cup.鈥