I’ve known Emma through the years, but when she appears on Facetime, it hits me that she’s all grown up! She’s sitting in new her apartment with an eclectic collage of artwork in the background. She’s confident and beautiful, as always!

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W: Well, hello there! So great to see you!

E: Hi! Great to see you too!

W: Thanks so much for talking with me. I’m doing this interview with you because I can’t tell you how many times people have mentioned that your snow ballerina photo is their favorite! Do you remember the day we took it?

E: Oh, my gosh, yes! I remember that it was really cold. And you were like, “I have this vision and we’re going to do these pictures and they’re going to be beautiful!” I was really excited but I was wearing my tutu and I was freezing! I’m pretty sure I missed school for that.

W: Oh, yeah! It all started when I called your mom and told her I had a concept for a shot but we’d have to wait until it snowed and conditions were perfect. And your mom was like, “Sure! I can get her out of school!” She’s my kinda mom!

E: I was in 7th or 8th grade. We went to the dog park. It was snowing and I was freezing! You were having me move over here, then over there, to get out of the ice.

My mom said, “You’ve just got to trust Wendy, it’ll be fine!” I did trust you and those pictures turned out awesome!

W: Thank you so much for braving the elements! I still love those photos.

E: It was worth it!

W: When I take on a creative project like this one, it’s freeing because I’m not getting paid so I can do whatever I want.

E: I feel like too, with your creativity as a photographer and my creativity as a dancer, it’s different realms, but they mesh so well. We’re both outside of our comfort zone … we’re in the middle of the snow, I’m wearing a tutu and point shoes and it’s like, “Okay, how can we be creative and make this awesome?”

W: You’re so right, Emma! I love working with dancers … but I never thought of it quite like you just described. I always thought I liked photographing dancers because they were aware of their bodies, they can do amazing moves and take direction well. So if I’m yelling out directions, they’re not intimated. Sometimes when I’m directing other people, they freeze.

But your perspective about two types of creativity blending into a new vision is genius! You are SO right. I love that.

I’m SO GLAD you got out of school that day so we could create that fabulous image together!

E: Me too! I can remember a few other days I was pulled out of school for photos …

W: (Laughing) Really?

E: One time it was with my brother in the snow. My mom said, “Yeah … we’re doing this again but with your brother.” It was at the dog park again. And it was still freezing! (Laughing)

W: (Laughing) So you got out of school again?! Lucky girl! Do you remember how old you were when I first took your photos?

E: I want to say I was 11 or 12. You took our family photos in downtown St. Paul.

W: Oh yes!

E: We still have those photos hanging up in our house!

W: I love that big collage of photos you have in your entry! And I took your senior photos and your brother’s senior photos too. Out of all of the photos I’ve taken of you and your family, do you have a favorite?

E: Yeah, I do! There’s one of my brother and me. That very first time you took our pictures. You were trying to get us to laugh. And my dad ran out into the middle of the street and did a cartwheel to make us laugh. That’s when you took my favorite picture. Right when we were cracking up at my dad!

W: Oh, I’m so glad you have that memory. I should find out a way to capture the crazy stuff parents are doing behind me while I’m shooting! (I have stories!) Switching gears, how long were you a dancer?

E: I danced from the time I was two until I was 19. I started out at the University of Minnesota as a dance major.

W: Oh, you were?

E: Yes! I did mostly ballet and modern. I was in a pre-professional program in high school. I continued that through freshman year of college. I was a double major with dance and biology but I realized I couldn’t do both, so I decided to leave dance behind and focus on biology.  

Maybe someday I could get back into it. Maybe take classes. We’ll see. I miss it.

W: I get it. Your body can only dance for so long, but biology is forever! (Laughing).

E: Right! I graduated from the U of M and am just about to start a physician assistant program at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI.

W: Ooooo. Impressive.

E: Thanks! I took a year off in between graduating and starting this PA program to work in assisted living as a nursing assistant. I’ve had a full year off which has been awesome.

I’m thinking of specializing in geriatrics or orthoptic surgery. I’m keeping my options open.  

W: Tell me a bit about your program.

E: It’s focused on underserved communities. We have a huge Spanish-speaking population here. Our school is connected to a free clinic. I’m super excited about that because I really hope to work with people who don’t have access to health care. I was a Spanish minor too, so I can use that.

W: You’ll brush up on that Spanish pretty quickly! You’re so smart and creative.

I love people your age because you’re at this time where you can make your life anything you want. You’re just starting to make it all happen. Do you have any ideas about how you want to change the world?

E: Oh gosh. So many! I was drawn to being a physician assistant because this position was created to fill a gap in healthcare. I definitely want to be a part of providing care to people who don’t have insurance and who don't have access to care. I’d also like to collaborate with nutritionists and dietitians to teach the importance of eating a clean diet and even treating illnesses with diet changes. I hope I can use my Spanish to broaden my patient population and give more access to care. 

I’m also passionate about animal advocacy and environmental sustainability. I’d like to eventually start an animal sanctuary and also get into education about how we can better treat our planet.

W: Well, wow!

E: Big dreams!

W: You can do it Emma! Okay, my last question. Do you have a motto that you live by?

E: Yes. I feel like it changes depending on what season of life I’m in. But right now, I have two.

One motto that guides me is “begin again.”

A lot of meditation instructors use it. I’ve found that it’s so refreshing because throughout your day if there’s something that upsets you or throws you off track, or if there’s someone in your life who’s struggling and you’re taking that on, it always reminds me to take a deep breath and begin again. No matter what life throws at you, big or small.

W: I love that! I’m totally using that starting right now. 

E: Yes! The other one is “be kind anyway” from Mother Theresa. I really love that one because I think it can be easy to be kind. But adding the “anyway” part can make it tough because if someone treats you poorly, it’s tempting to lash out or not treat them with respect. I think saying “anyway” reminds you that no matter how someone is treating you, it’s still important to give them that kindness and respect.

W: You are such a thoughtful person. My daughter is sitting outside my office listening and she just said, “I heard all of that and I love it!”

E: Ooooooh! Good.

W: Maylon (my daughter) is my inspirational child. She loves quotes and song lyrics. I’m sure we’ll see “Be kind anyway” in her Insta stories in about 3 seconds! (Laughing)

 Ok, Emma. That’s all I have for today. Thank you SO MUCH! It was so great to learn about your big plans!

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And that’s Emma. So much more than a pretty ballerina. She’s an accomplished, thoughtful young woman poised to make her mark on the world in a kind way. Now, that’s beautiful.