Finding Fulfillment
Student Snapshot: Evan McClure ’27
Accomplishment is important to Evan McClure ’27—and so is a sense of fulfillment and fun. In high school, he launched a profitable side hustle and coached a youth rugby team. As a Dickinson first-year and Reynolds Scholar, he’s deepening his leadership experiences. He’s also forging a close circle of friends, discovering a love for philosophy and ethics and maintaining a national ranking in the top 100 for a hockey video game.
Hometown:
Ellicott City, Md.
Major:
Undeclared, with a minor in ethics.
Clubs and organizations:
Just club golf for now, but I am eager to get further involved as my first year continues to unfold. I have also just accepted a postion as Resident Advisor (R.A.) for the 2024-25 academic year.
Honors/scholarships/awards:
Reynolds Leadership Scholar Program and 2024 Emerging Leaders Retreat.
Best thing about my Dickinson experience so far:
My world has been filled with so many wonderful people, from my professors and classmates to the alums and close friends I’ve made in my short time here. I must add that the small class sizes make connecting with these people much easier, and that’s one of my favorite things about classes here.
On choosing Dickinson:
Dickinson was on my radar as my parents' alma mater, but I didn’t fall in love with Dickinson’s liberal-arts education until my second tour. Dickinson also offered a personal touch beyond that of any other institution I was looking at. It was clear that this was a place where I could be heard and seen. I also heard President Jones speak during the Maryland Dickinson Forward event and felt such a strong sense of momentum revolving around the school’s direction—I wanted to be a part of that future. And, of course, the generosity of George and Jennifer Ward Reynolds is incredible and an offer I could not refuse.
Favorite class so far:
My favorite class thus far was my First-Year Seminar (FYS), Ideas That Shaped the World. I'm a huge fan of how our Orientation group was also our FYS class—many of my close friends are from this group. As for the subject matter, I had never read any philosophy material before the class, and I really enjoyed Plato and titles like The Iliad. Our professor, Assistant Professor of Religion Peter Schadler, led thought-provoking discussions well, and the class was super fun to participate in.
Favorite professor:
Associate Professor Mireille Rebeiz (French and francophone studies; women’s, gender & sexuality studies) deserves a ton of credit for totally changing my perspective on world language classes. I had poor experiences with my middle- and high-school French classes. Mireille quickly turned that around, providing a caring environment focused on practical learning and growth. She was always a bright spot in my day, and her ability to connect with students as individuals is phenomenal.
Proudest accomplishment so far:
Earning the Reynolds Scholarship. It’s such a wonderful opportunity, and it validated my effort in school leading up to the college application process.
Hobbies:
In my free time, I love collecting sports trading cards, and I’ve built the hobby into a business, flipping cards for profit since 2020. Additionally, I’m regularly ranked in the top 100 nationally for NHL24, a hockey video game.
Most important thing I’ve learned so far:
This is such a tough question, but I’d have to say: Seek fulfillment. Find things that are positive and make you feel truly at peace and inspired, and try to do them as often as possible. I had the opportunity to coach a U-9 youth rugby team during a season when an injury prevented me from playing, and what we built and accomplished brought me much more joy than any scoring of my own did. That experience taught me a lot.
Advice for incoming students:
Don't take yourself too seriously, and remember to have fun, smile and laugh.
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Published March 19, 2024