Diana Prulhiere
High School: Tallmadge
Major: Chemistry
Why did you choose to pursue chemistry at Mount Union? I decided to pursue a degree in chemistry because I enjoyed the basics that I was taught in high school and I wanted to get a chance to do some more in-depth experimentation and research.
What types of jobs are available for students who share your major? There are many types of jobs available to chemistry students, such as industry, medical research, teaching, and depending on your further education, perhaps heading a research team or other countless opportunities.
How will you use your degree upon graduation? After I graduate I plan on attending law school to become a patent attorney. The two may seem unrelated, but it requires a background in science or engineering, so I will be putting my degree to use.
What activities are you involved in? I am the secretary of the American Chemical Society and a member of the Pre-Law Society. I was the vice president of Alpha Lambda Delta, a group leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the Sophomore Service Honorary and a varsity volleyball athlete.
Elements a person should possess to succeed in your major? To be a successful chemistry major you must know how to utilize your time and be very focused. You spend a lot of hours in the lab and writing lab reports, as well as repeating the same types of practice problems over and over again until you understand; it takes a lot of motivation and determination. At some point or another you'll come to know Bracy Hall as your home rather than your dorm room! You also must be able to not only take the information that you are taught and apply it for the remainder of your time here, but you have to be able to look at the big picture and do some critical thinking to solve problems or discrepancies on your own.
What advice can you offer for someone who is considering having the same major as you? To those who are considering becoming chemistry majors, I would encourage you to do so. The experiments you will do and the information you will learn is exciting and will teach you about things you are surrounded by every day. The faculty is great and very helpful, but you have to be willing to put the time in. And don't get frustrated if you don't understand everything right away, with a little practice and hard work the pieces will fall into place.