2024 - Meet Percy Schulz

Elgin Community College (ECC) student Percy Schulz of East Dundee, Illinois, isn’t afraid to expose his vulnerability to a crowd. During a storytelling event at ECC called “ECC Speaks,” Schulz told a story about his hair. 

“The theme was ‘What I Wish I Knew,’ and I talked about being transgender and eventually shaving my hair, buzzing it, and having it all grow back,” he said. “My entire identity isn’t my hair. I can foster my identity through outside relationships, activities I do, and self-love.” 

Being vulnerable through written and spoken words has been a passion for Schulz since he was young. He was in the poetry club and on the spoken word poetry team in high school. When he began at ECC in the fall of 2021, he immediately found a place in the Writers Center and in student clubs.  

“My time here has been great,” Schulz said. “I feel like even though we were still in the pandemic initially, there were still things we could do. As the years went on, I wasn’t really scared to get involved because it was so welcoming here.” 

The welcoming atmosphere Schulz experienced at ECC extends significantly to the English department, which Schulz said has inspired him greatly to not only pursue his dream of teaching English to high school students but also to teach English at the college level.  

Schulz’s biggest support, though, regarding his writing, is his dad. “My dad is the one I go to when I have a good first draft,” Schulz said. “He isn’t creative himself, but he’s a great listener. He’s always been my biggest fan and is a great support.” 

Schulz’s time at ECC is coming to a close as he hopes to graduate this December and transfer to a four-year university to continue pursuing his passion for English. As for ECC, he won’t forget it.  

“It feels crazy that it’s all ending because it’s been such a good ride,” Schulz said. Learn more about this courageous writer!  

What’s one thing you do outside of ECC? I play Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) with friends. I’m also a barista at a coffee shop in Elgin. DnD and coffee are my two big things.  

What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was very young, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon. I’d watch shows like “House” and “Grey's Anatomy,” and I thought that I could totally do what they were doing and it would be so easy. Then I realized how long medical school would be! 

Where is your favorite spot on campus? Inside, I would say it is near the Writers Center. The poetry wall is really cool, but the office is nice, too. Outside would be the lakeside lounge area. It’s a nice place to go when it’s nice outside.  

Where’s one place you dream of traveling? I have always wanted to go to Italy, so I went when I saw that ECC had a study abroad opportunity there. It was really cool and a dream come true. The next destination I would want to go to would be Germany or England.  

Shout out an ECC staff member or peer! Rachel Stewart, professor of English. Until recently, she was head of the Writers Center. She’s really cool. Chasity Gunn, assistant professor of English, is also a cool human. She’s in charge of the center now. Those are my top two faculty members.