I am a junior majoring in chemistry, and I am on the pre-med track. I am in the Chemistry Department's honors program, and I have a 4.01 GPA. I hold two research positions: one is in a wet lab involving inorganic chemistry and general synthesis, while the other involves statistical analysis of Lyme disease in household pets across the New England area. My passion outside of school is community engagement: I volunteer at local rad bays for the Cancer Resource Center, mentor as a Big Brother, and cook meals for the unhoused at Loaves & Fishes. I spend my free time training for a marathon in the fall, reading primarily nonfiction and science fiction novels, and watching stand-up comedy. A personal project that I just started working on is studying the health disparity between tribal reservations and the rest of the U.S.

Hometown

Buffalo, NY Marshfield, MA

Major(s)

Chemistry

Minor(s)

American Indian and Indigenous Studies

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Cancer Resource Center Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Loaves & Fishes Cornell Political Union Cornell Running Club Snail Mail Club

Describe your college experience

I have unequivocally loved my time at college. I've met so many fun and interesting people that I can gladly call my friends. Campus is always buzzing with activity, and the social life encourages you to go out and explore everything Cornell and the surrounding area has to offer. I oftentimes spend many days studying or researching indoors, but I can always count on seeing the beautiful nature that awaits as soon as I step outside. Classes can be quite challenging, but they have helped me grow both as a student and as a member of society.

Tip for future students

My first and foremost recommendation is to never stop putting yourself out there. No matter where you go to college, you will be surrounded by a host of amazing people that can change your life. "Putting yourself out there" isn't just a first-month-of-school activity; it's a mindset that will only serve to make you happier and more grateful for the wonderful people in your life. My second recommendation is to maintain some diligence with your time. While college can feel exciting and even overwhelming with all it has to offer, you have to remember that, at the end of the day, you are a student. I'll never suggest that you should stop having fun, but you must ensure that it doesn't come at the expense of the reason you're at college in the first place.

Favorite class

My favorite class has been General Chemistry I, mostly because of the great professor who taught it to me. General Chemistry I (otherwise known as Gen Chem) is notoriously known as a difficult course here at Cornell, but the difficulty did not abate my curiosity for the subject. That is where Professor Kyle Lancaster swept in: every week was filled with colorful, mind-blowing demonstrations. His idea was to connect the material that so many students loathed with exciting depictions of the very topics we were learning. This was capped off with an end-of-the-semester lecture where he lit the entire lecture hall on fire (the hall was fine, but it sure made for an incredible visual). I came to Cornell undecided for my major, but Gen Chem and Professor Lancaster were the push that made me fall in love with chemistry.

Career goals

I plan on attending medical school and earning an MD-PhD. I plan to use this degree to conduct medical research. I am still on the fence about which topic I would like to research, but cancer and disease are two front-running candidates.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal free night is spent going on a run, eating dinner with a group of friends, laying down on Libe Slope with my girlfriend while staring up at the night sky, and reading a book before heading off to bed.

High school or secondary school

Scituate High School, Scituate, MA 02066

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot on campus is Libe Slope because of the plentiful greenery and the great view of the rolling hills, Cayuga Lake, and the horizon.