Alyse Hawk
Undergraduate Student MTSU
Psychology
1) How did you become interested in math or science field while at
high school?
I had always been interested and involved in science since before high
school—really even before school altogether. It started out with a love of
animals. I had dogs, cats, fish, and reptiles while growing up, and my
grandfather had horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and almost anything else you could
imagine (the occasional fox family, turtles, and rabbits). My father took
me to horse-riding lessons, and enrolled me in “a day in the life of a
veterinarian.” That day introduced me to the scientific side of animals.
I realized that they (and us) are made up of many different bodily systems
(circulatory, respiratory, etc.). I learned about the shots and medicine
that they needed to be healthy, and how those medicines interacted with the
animals’ bodies. I guess that experience still inspires me today, because
I would love to prescribe or even create medicines to help people. My love
for anything scientific grew with each class that I took through high school and
college, and brought me to where I am today (a psychology major, with a minor in
neuroscience).
2) Why did you choose to work in your field?
I haven’t actually found a career yet, but that’s because I’m so busy doing
research with my professors and preparing it to present to “the scientific
community,” and also preparing myself for a graduate program so that I will have
the necessary resources to get that career that I want.
3) What are some areas of your job that you like the most?
The thing that I like most about any job in science, is that you can continue
learning new things after school (while working) and help people/animals at the
same time. I would really be surprised if anyone with a job in the field
of science ever got bored with their work.
4) What one thing would you tell a middle or high school girl who is
considering majoring in STEM in college?
Just follow what really interests you—what makes you happy and excited to learn
about or do. Everything takes work, but if it’s something that you really
enjoy, it won’t feel like work (you won’t hate to do it; you will feel proud
once the work is completed).
5) What is your contact information? (Phone number or email address)
This is optional.
dah3f@mtsu.edu
6) Would you like to correspond with a high school girl who is
interested in entering your field? If she has questions for me
(psychology major/Spanish, too), then yes.