Contrary to popular belief, or rather the unpopular opinion, is that I love chemistry. I literally would live and breath chemistry every day if it was possible. While I could have majored in just chemistry, I wanted to be able to do the mechanical aspects of engineering and veered to majoring in chemical engineering instead; however, that has not stopped me from taking all the chemistry classes I can take during my time at WPI.
I'm not really sure when the love for chemistry really set in or if it was just something I was destined to do. Having my father as a chemist and chemistry professor, I heard consistently about chemistry from a young age, clearly not understanding what was going on. I remember very vividly having a day off in elementary school and sitting in on my dad's lecture of general chemistry. While all his students gawked at how cute the professor's daughter was, I sat in the lecture hall and attempted to recreate the notes being put on the board. Maybe that was the start of it all.
Or maybe it was high school where I really learned how much chemistry was my true passion. I started my chemistry career officially by taking Honors Chemistry at my local high school. At the time I was thinking, "No way would I go into this; this is what my dad does." Clearly the teenage angst was talking. I didn't get 100s on everything in that class; however, I did realize that this subject was something I would wish to continue due to my now high interest each topic we did. I decided halfway through the year that you know what? I want to take AP Chemistry my senior year even though I would be in Honors Physics as well. It somehow fit into the schedule and I was able to take it! Nothing compared to the fact I could continue taking chemistry straight into college.
By the time my senior year began, I decided chemical engineering would be my major. I applied to colleges that all had chemical engineering programs. I ended up finding WPI and was more than excited to end up attending. Through my freshmen year, I took the typical general chemistry classes, but when sophomore year came around, that's when I knocked things into 12th gear. I ended up taking all the organic chemistry courses and an inorganic chemistry course as well. Why? I don't really know. I just really love chemistry.
Chemistry is the science of matter, and it definitely matters. I love the complexities of learning about everything that is around us. The patterns are intricate, and while many do not like chemistry for the amount of math it involves or just simply the fact that it is difficult to learn, especially the first time around, these are the reasons why I love it. The challenge involved in learning the science of literally everything is not an easy feat, but it's one I'm willing to try to accomplish.
