Sarah Chapman is a senior scholar-athlete whose passion for both literature and field hockey has culminated in a remarkable journey of self-discovery and creative expression. As a creative writing major and literature in English minor, she knew from the start of her time at Bryn Mawr that she would write a creative piece for her senior thesis. To bring this vision to its culmination, Chapman formed Bryn Mawr's independent major in creative writing. Now, as a major representative following into the 2023-24 academic year, her time and dedication have led to creative writing being an official major at Bryn Mawr.
 
Titled I Met Her in Ithaca, Chapman's thesis project is a queer coming-of-age fiction novel that explores young love and identity. "It's a love story between two young women that ultimately highlights the importance of gay love and mental health, including themes of romance, heartbreak, and belonging, and embodying the 'beautifully tragic,'" she explains. To bring authenticity to her storytelling, Chapman immersed herself in the setting of her novel, spending a month in Ithaca, NY, last summer with her faithful feline companion, Fettuccine, by her side. She shares, "It's the waterfall capital of the US, which is going to make for some hopefully really lovely moments in the story."
 
But Chapman's talents extend beyond the written word. As a scholar-athlete, she has carved out unforgettable memories on the field hockey team, none more exhilarating than her game-winning goal as captain against Franklin & Marshall College last year, sending the team to the Centennial Conference Championships. "I pretty much blacked out in that moment," she recalls, "and the next thing I knew, my teammates were tackling me and the crowd was cheering my name. It was one of the best days of my life." Yet, for Chapman, the true highlight of her Bryn Mawr experience lies in the relationships she's formed along the way, saying, "The people are what stood out to me the most… I haven't just made friends during my time at Bryn Mawr, but family."
 
Among those who have left a lasting impact on Chapman is Coach Brady, whose serendipitous discovery of Chapman's highlight reel on YouTube paved the way for her collegiate athletic journey. With gratitude evident in her words, "My family and I always saw that as a meant-to-be sort of thing because it was not an ideal way to get recruited." Equally instrumental has been Daniel Torday, co-head of the creative writing department at Bryn Mawr, whose guidance and mentorship have been invaluable throughout Chapman's book-writing process. "He has been there since my very first year," she expresses, "and I am very grateful for all of the things that he has taught me." And of course, she feels none of this would be possible without the unconditional love and support from her friends, and especially her family, encouraging her "To just 'follow my heart and write the best story I can.'" 
 
Even when times were overwhelming and stressful, Chapman has "Loved every second of being a scholar-athlete, and I love getting to say I can play a sport and write a whole book." As she looks ahead to life beyond Bryn Mawr, her ambitions are as vast as her imagination. She revealed, "After I graduate, I plan to get my novel published and finish up a second manuscript that I have been working on as well…  a collection of poetry entitled FREEFALL DOWN" with strong ambitions to be a published author, poet, and musician. She has plans for her and her sister to live in Philadelphia together, simultaneously pursuing music while "Working at a publishing house as an editor and graphic book designer."
 
With a heart full of dreams and a spirit brimming with creativity, Chapman is poised to embark on the next chapter of her journey, armed with the unwavering support of her loved ones and the powerful spirit of a true scholar-athlete. "I am so excited for what the next chapter of my life holds for me," she declares. "If my book can touch even just one person, I will be the happiest person alive… I am so grateful to get to share in my excitement for the work I have been doing."