Highlighting Women in Science: A Student’s Perspective

Olivia Shaw is a University of North Georgia student from Suwanee, Georgia. She is a senior with one more year to complete her studies. She decided to attend the school after spending time on campus while her brother was attending the school. She found the campus location and atmosphere so beautiful and engaging that it was not difficult for her to decide where she wanted to spend her college years. Currently, her studies revolve around General Chemistry, including a minor in Forensic Science. Her specialization is in Laboratory Chemistry and Characterization Techniques. This involves identifying unknown chemicals using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy, which allows the identification of functional groups or the basic structure of a compound in process. With two classes per day, Olivia can typically be found in class or in a lab for each classroom course between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

Future in Forensic Chemistry

Olivia’s future career aspirations include working in a crime lab alongside medical examiners and crime scene investigators. Like several of our other Women in Science interviewees, Olivia attributes her love of science to a curiosity about the world, the big questions that make her think, and a desire to understand how things work. Her father, an engineer, introduced her to the world of science, and they have always shared an interest in space exploration and aerodynamics. In fact, Olivia’s original plan for her college studies included Aerospace Engineering. She discovered her passion for studying chemistry by taking classes to support this pathway. The hard work involved in studying difficult subjects motivates Olivia, “I have always liked things that make me think. I find a lot of satisfaction in the hard work it takes to understand different scientific principles and challenging subject matter. I have always loved nature, so studying to understand the world's natural laws is very satisfying.” She considers the hard work required to succeed in her field the most rewarding aspect of her current path. She enjoys putting in the extra effort and knowing that she has accomplished something at the end of each day, even when things don’t go as planned in the lab or the results aren’t great. It is still satisfying to see the results of her work.

To young women considering science as their field of study, she says, “Follow your heart and go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do what you want or aren’t good enough. Don’t give anyone a reason for them to believe that you can’t do it. Hard work and dedication can take you anywhere you want to go. Try not to be discouraged at some of the hard lessons that arise.” She mentions being discouraged and frustrated at different times, but those feelings go away as time passes. She got through it and encourages other young women, and people in general, to stick with it, even when it is hard. “These lessons provide a great sense of accomplishment, confidence, and an increased ability to trust yourself.”

Strength Training and Sports

Olivia dedicates five to six days a week to strength training and weight lifting in her free time. As a long-time athlete, she loves sports and most outdoor activities, including hiking. Yoga has become a more recent addition to her physical practice. It provides a great counterbalance to weight lifting and helps her slow down to be more mindful when she is busy and has very little time to herself. This supports her in ensuring she is caring for her mental health. She also aims to read more this year and has successfully made time for that. Olivia balances her free time with school, internships, and a job. She admits that such a busy schedule can sometimes be overwhelming, but her workouts and yoga help her stay grounded and aware of her feelings. Finding time for herself is crucial in working with many moving parts of her schedule. She feels this is easier as she is surrounded by great friends, family, and professors who all support her well-being. In closing, Olivia restated that she thinks it is important for young women to keep pushing forward, “Failure can be very scary. The first time you fail at something is so humbling, and it is hard to be okay with failing. Sometimes, you can be doing your very best and still fail. You grow so much when you allow yourself to be open to the lessons that come from it. If you’re really passionate about what you are doing, don’t shy away from it. Keep moving forward.”

Women in Science Article Series

In this article series, The Lab Depot hopes to honor the International Day of Women and Girls in Science by building an awareness of the women doing the work daily. Mothers, daughters, wives, friends, caregivers, and colleagues. These are fascinating stories of commitment, dedication, transition, and a great love for the potential to improve the world, found in all sciences. We hope you enjoy learning more about these intelligent chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering contributors. If you are a woman in science or know one for whom you have great respect, please let us know! Tell us about your path, or hers, using the comments section on any of our Women in Science social media posts, or email our Communications Officer, Susie Csomor: [email protected].