Growing up in Gainesville, Ga., Brenau Women’s College freshman Emily Bruce knew immediately there was one major benefit to coming to school at Brenau: She would never get lost.

“I know a lot about this area, so I don’t get lost here as easily,” says Bruce, one of four Brenau Scholars named for the 2013-14 academic year. “And it’s definitely cool because I get to see my friends and family whenever I want.”

As an English major, Bruce relishes the chance to surround herself in the richness of literature and storytelling. As she sees it, her English major isn’t just laying the groundwork for future graduate studies. Instead, as a writer, she’s planning on building on the novels she’s already written in high school.

“It’s kind of what I really want to do,” she says. “I think what started it is I really love reading, and that progressed to writing.”

When she’s not writing her own stories, she’s playing musical ones instead. Bruce performed in her high school’s chorus at the state level. She also plays keyboards in a band at her church, which performs at services and special events.

Bruce says being a Brenau Scholar is not intimidating, but it is likely to propel her to push herself even more. Although a Brenau Scholar must maintain a 3.3 GPA, Bruce took a full academic load, signing up for 18 credit hours her first semester.

“I like to stay busy,” she shrugs. “I definitely like loading up my schedule. It’s good to have pressure. It kind of pushes you forward.”