Exploring An Interest in Chemistry – MacKenzie Kotch

“I transferred to Meredith in my sophomore year. I looked for Division III schools to transfer to, as I was hoping to continue playing the sport I played at my previous institution. I searched for DIII schools and randomly clicked on Meredith College. When I toured Meredith, it just felt right, like trying on the perfect dress. Call it fate or just a coincidence; either way, I’m happy it happened. 

I had a great chemistry teacher in high school who encouraged me to pursue chemistry. I had never thought about majoring in chemistry until she told me I should. 

While at Meredith, I learned that I love working with instruments in a lab just as much as I love to ‘play’ with chemicals. When I was taking Instrumental Analysis and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry, I fell in love with the instruments. I liked to use them, and even though I may not fully understand how they worked, I was always curious. 

In the spring semester of 2024, I was really struggling in Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry. I was worried about the final, and I was meeting with my professor, Dr. Poslusny, a lot. He helped me through all of my many questions, and I was able to pass the final with a very good grade. He helped me and made me feel confident and capable.

In 2024, I was inducted into the chemistry honors society Gamma Sigma Epsilon (GSE) and later became the vice president. I have gotten closer to my fellow chemistry students and professors as a result. 

I met some of my closest friends at Meredith through theatre. I had even been in some classes with them, but we didn’t talk until theatre. I love to perform, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to do that in college since I wasn’t a theatre major. Theatre has taught me to advocate for myself.

After graduation, I am planning on finding a tech position at a crime lab. If I like forensics, then it’s off to graduate school for a master’s.”