Gina Wong CO '29 Princeton University
1. What first sparked your interest in chemistry? Was there a specific moment, class, or person that inspired you?
Honors and AP Chemistry were two of the classes that really pushed me to pursue chemistry as a major. The teacher of those classes, Mrs. Giampiccolo, is very good at teaching, and it’s clear that she has a strong passion for science and dedication to her students. Having her as a teacher, alongside my lifelong interest in the science behind everyday life, encouraged me to stay on the path of being a woman in stem!
2. What has been the most rewarding or exciting part of studying chemistry?
The most rewarding part of studying chemistry has to be the labs/experiments. All of your hard work during incredibly difficult class lessons pays off when you get to see the results of certain labs. Seeing the different reactions you’ve read about in textbooks come to life is super fascinating!
3. What do you hope to do with your degree in the future? What kind of impact do you want to make?
With my degree, I want to go into pre-med. I’m not entirely sure what career I’m aiming for, but definitely something in the medical field. My father suffered a heart attack during my 8th birthday party, and witnessing the nurses showing incredible compassion and empathy during his recovery process inspired me to be like them one day. I want to be a reliable, comforting presence for others during their rough patches, like how those nurses were to me during my father’s recovery.
4. What advice would you give to someone just starting their college application?
It can seem like a lot at first, but as long as you take each part one step at a time (the Common App, personal statement, supplementals) it can be manageable. It requires a lot of self-reflection so it’s best if you don’t procrastinate! Counselors can be a really good resource during application season, especially if you’re clueless on the entire process, so don’t feel afraid to reach out. This is a chance to show colleges your journey, so don’t feel like you need to lie in your application just to boost your chances. A majority of your peers are going through the same process, so don’t feel alone. You got this!
