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Growing up, biochemistry major Kelsey LaRose ’22 always enjoyed science. But it was at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø where she discovered a love for math and chemistry, subjects that she often struggled with in high school. Now, she’s a calculus tutor and conducts new research in the state-of-the-art Science and Research Center on campus. 

“I have always loved science, growing up, and I find the subject fascinating. I started at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø as a biology major and changed my major with the help of Dr. Marie Turner, who showed me the joys of chemistry,” she says. “Changing my major was super easy and stress-free, and I will be forever grateful to Dr. Turner for helping me discover my love for chemistry.”

“I am also grateful to Dr. Tracy Wang for helping me find joy in math,” she adds. “I absolutely hated math in middle and high school because I struggled to learn and understand it, but Dr. Wang makes math fun and easy to learn, and now I work on campus as a math tutor.”

Her new confidence and skill in math and science will serve her well. The senior aspires to start medical school next year with hopes to become a pediatric cardiologist. This summer, she plans to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and attend medical school at Tufts University or the University of Massachusetts.

Outside academics, LaRose credits her many campus jobs (she’s an Orientation Leader, Resident Assistant, Community Desk Attendant, and EMT) and (including the Dance Team, Pre-Health Elite, and Feminist United) with helping her build new friendships, uncover additional personal interests, and grow as an independent adult.

“By joining clubs and working as a Resident Assistant and Orientation Leader, I have met so many amazing individuals and have found many new friends along the way,” she says. “During my first year, I struggled to balance the school work because I wasn’t the best student in high school, and I thought grades didn’t matter. My professors pushed me to be the best student I can be.”