Jess Olle '21

Major: Chemistry with an emphasis in forensic science


What made you choose a chemistry major?

I love chemistry and in high school it was the only thing that kept my attention and the only subject I actually enjoyed, so I thought why not make it my major? I also had no idea what else I would do.

What is your career objective? 

I love the lab portions of every chemistry class I’ve ever taken, and I love doing the hands-on part of chemistry, so I’m planning on working in a research environment. 

How has what you’ve learned in your courses so far prepared you for your future?  

I’ve learned so much about chemistry that I’ve never thought I would, and it’s helped me figure out what kind of chemistry I want to go into for research, and it’s definitely helped me develop a great network for when I graduate and prepare for the workforce. 

What opportunities have you had to work closely with a faculty member and what impact has that had on your education?

Because of the small class sizes at Carroll, professors are able to invest more in their students and develop those relationships with them. I’ve had the opportunity to develop a relationship with a professor that taught my analytical chemistry class, Dr. Piatt, who helped me find a research project for my senior year, is a constant resource for other classes that I may not have him as a professor for, and has been a wonderful counselor and just overall person I can turn to when I have any questions. That’s what Carroll stands for, and having the close relationship with professors helps out the students here in many ways. 

What is the most memorable experience you’ve had in your education at Carroll?

I don’t think I can focus on one experience to say it’s been the most memorable. My entire experience at Carroll has shaped me into a person I never thought I would be. I am more confident in myself and in classes, I am exploring options I normally wouldn’t, and I am pushing myself to do better in all things. I don’t think that I would be able to be the person I am today without all of the memories, experiences, classes, and everything else that Carroll has given me.

How has Carroll enriched your growth as a person?

I’ve been able to explore many things outside of my major because of the extra space. I am close to having a philosophy minor, and that’s something that most chemistry majors don’t have. I love exploring philosophy because it allows me to have a different thinking than I do when doing chemistry, and it helps shape some of my thinking. 

If you were recommending your major to a prospective student, what would you tell them?

All majors at Carroll are hard in their own way. Chemistry challenges a person to stick through their classes when they get hard, but they are also intriguing and extremely interesting. The chemistry staff at Carroll is wonderful and in my opinion they work harder to get to know you and help your success than any other major because of the small amount of chemistry students. It truly helps students succeed in the major, and I believe that is the best thing about chemistry. 

How has financial aid made a difference in your life?

I received the scholarship that Carroll offers. It truly felt nice to know that my hard work before college was being acknowledged and that I was being rewarded for it. The scholarships from Carroll truly do help bring down the cost of being here, but being at Carroll is truly worth every single penny, and I would come here even if it costed me more. 

What’s your favorite place to study on campus?

Hands down the Learning Commons. I’m there so much that sometimes I think they should just keep a table reserved with my name on it and have a pillow and blanket there 24/7. The LC has literally everything you could need to study and it’s also a great environment. I think a good second is the labs in Jaharis. I enjoy being able to sit in an empty lab and just work on things for a bit.

Learn more about the chemistry program
 

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