“I have seen so many different opportunities both career and otherwise through my housemates and other fellows as well as speakers at seminar and through my non-profit.” -Abbey Schulz
Abbey Schulz, born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been a Pittsburgh Steelers fan for as long as she can remember. Growing up and caring for a younger brother with Autism, Abbey quickly discovered her passion for serving others, especially those with other abilities. She attended Hanover College in southern Indiana, where she earned her degree in Social Justice and Inequality and graduated with Honors. She has dedicated her time to serving as a mentor in the Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility until she created her own program in the Madison Women’s Correctional Facility. Abbey’s curiosity for learning inspired her to travel around the world, where she studied for a semester in Norway and took a month-long course in Jamaica. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and picking up new hobbies. She is a part of the Northside cohort, and is serving at Hockey Sticks Together Foundation.
Savanna Thompson: What has been the most valuable part of the PULSE experience so far?
Abbey Schulz: Living in community has been the most impactful part of my experience. I felt like I have grown the most through this part of PULSE. I am constantly learning new things such as cooking new dishes, as well as how to interact more maturely and communicate my needs to others. We have a good group of people to come to the city with, people who knew the city and help me feel comfortable in it
Savanna: How has PULSE inspired you to live/think/act differently?
Abbey: It has empowered me to live my life in a more vulnerable way both with people and with myself. It makes me take a deeper dive into who I am and how I live.
Savanna: Tell me something you are learning about yourself through PULSE.
Abbey: I am learning that I need some kind of structure. I need a schedule and a specific plan in order to keep myself on task. I have learned how to make a structure for myself because the non-profit I am serving with is very fluid. I have learned how to be disciplined to stay on task with my own schedule.
Savanna: What do you enjoy most about your nonprofit partnership?
Abbey: I enjoy that every day looks different for me. I get to dabble in a lot of different things. I work hands-on with the students and athletes while also doing administrative tasks and sitting in on board meetings.
Savanna: What have you enjoyed most about living in community?
Abbey: Coming home to a house full of really empowering women who create a positive and accepting space to be in.
Savanna: What surprised you most about Pittsburgh?
Abbey: I was most surprised about how friendly and neighborly the city feels because it is made up of so many different neighborhoods so there are a lot of different personalities that make up the city.
Savanna: What is the most interesting/fun adventure you’ve had in Pittsburgh so far?
Abbey: I really love the days that I get to go out on my run and see the man, Keto, at the bus stop every morning who went from a stranger to a cheerleader. I can talk to my neighbors and community members every morning and have gotten to know them as my cheerleaders every morning, looking out for me and encouraging me.
Savanna: What’s your favorite “family meal” recipe for the house?
Abbey: Butter Chicken made in the crockpot!
Savanna: What is the best part of the PULSE experience?
Abbey: The broader connections that I make through PULSE. I have seen so many different opportunities both career and otherwise through my housemates and other fellows as well as speakers at seminar and through my non-profit.
Story by PULSE Fellow Savanna Thompson.
Read more Fellow Stories from Fellows about their experience in PULSE. If you would like to learn more about the PULSE program, please visit our Serve with Us page.
Also, check out other Stories of Transformation: