Biochemistry Major
What made you choose Heidelberg and when did it start to feel like home?
I chose Heidelberg for its small campus community and the Donor Body lab. Having small class sizes meant more interactions with my classmates, and the point in freshman year when I began to develop friendships with them was when Heidelberg began to feel like home. I really knew Heidelberg was home when I was excited to come back from breaks and see my friends. I would also catch myself referring to Heidelberg as home when I was leaving to come back to Berg after breaks.
What moment at Heidelberg made you feel most proud to be a Student Prince?
Planning and holding the Donor Body Appreciation Ceremony. This was such an honor, and getting to share my experience with the campus community was something I was very proud to do. Having this opportunity makes Heidelberg unique, and it is something I am proud to have done.
What’s a class, club, or activity you joined on a whim and ended up loving?
I joined Chem Club on a whim freshman year because I was a biochemistry major, and my professors encouraged me to join. I ended up falling in love with the group and its members, and I am now the club's vice president. I always enjoy sharing my enjoyment of the club with others.
What’s your best “only at Heidelberg” story?
My best "only at Heidelberg" story happened on the Spring 2026 ACS trip that the Chem Club planned. The club advisors took the senior club members out for cheesecake on the final night of the trip, and we had personable conversations with them and got to know our faculty as people and not just professors. It truly is something that the close-knit community and small class size make possible to only happen at a school like Heidelberg.
What relationship or friendship here has meant the most to you and why?
My friendship with Abigail Stine. We were in the same classes as freshmen and became good friends in our late sophomore year. She has been with me through ups and downs and has truly been someone I value over anything else. The countless late nights studying for biochemistry or anatomy and physiology exams and the early mornings in the lab are times I cherish. My friendship with her will last beyond Heidelberg, and I am so happy we have become friends.
What opportunity outside the classroom shaped you the most?
The opportunity to travel and present my research. I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel with the Chem Club to the national ACS conferences and with the biology department to the Ohio Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (OBASM) conference, where I presented research I conducted independently and as part of my senior honors project. Presenting the independent research I have conducted at ACS as part of the nitric oxide wound healing patches research group has been a chance for me to practice my professional presentation skills, and has helped me improve immensely. As part of my senior honors project, I presented my research on acne-causing bacteria and acne treatments at the OBASM conference. This opportunity allowed me to further develop my presentation skills. These opportunities have shaped my communication skills and made me more confident in my abilities, which will be very useful as I move forward in my education.
What is a lesson from college that you will carry with you forever?
Life always keeps on moving. I have learned how to move forward after difficult times, and that the people you have built relationships with along the way will be there to support you. A bad exam grade or bad day isn't the end of the world, and it doesn't mean you are a bad student or person. Learning how to move on is an important lesson I have learned in college.
What memory still makes you smile, no matter what?
I have many memories that make me smile, and they all involve spending time with the friends I have made at Heidelberg. I enjoyed every minute I was able to spend with them and all the fun we had together. The memories can range from hanging out on the weekend to standing on the corner sidewalk outside the Bean before we all split for the night. Remembering any moment I spent with them truly makes me smile.
What experience at Heidelberg best prepared you for your next step?
I believe that being a teaching assistant has well prepared me for my next step. Helping others learn is one of the ways that I learn, and I think it will be a useful method to carry with me into medical school. I think it has helped me prepare to learn in a group setting, and I believe it will help me in the group setting of medical school. I have also enjoyed bonding with the underclassmen and getting to know them better, and I think that would also help me bond with my peers in medical school. I potentially see myself being an educator in the future, so this experience will help me with my next step.
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen about how to be successful at Heidelberg?
While it is great to make many friends in your first year/semester and be nice to everyone on campus, keeping your circle small is more important, in my opinion. Having a close group of friends that will always be there for you and have your back is more important than trying to be friends with everyone. Value those close to you, and find your core group.
What are your plans following graduation?
I am attending the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program beginning in Fall 2026.
Finally, what’s one thing you hope never changes about Heidelberg?
I hope the small community feeling never changes. It really is such a valuable experience to develop such close relationships with your professors and peers. It makes the difficult times in college easier to manage, and gives such a good support system.