School of Physical Sciences Class of ’23 Share Their Stories

June 16, 2023 | By Michelle Franklin

Marnie Aagard, B.Sc. in Biochemistry, minor in Psychology

Q: How do you feel about graduating?

MA: Excited and scared. I am so excited for the next phase of life, but I have no idea what it’s going to bring. I absolutely loved my time here, but it went by so fast. I’m sad it’s coming to a close!

Q: Did you experience any challenges on your path to completing your degree?

MA: I worked two jobs for almost all of undergrad to pay for school and housing. It was really tricky to balance, especially because I had hardships with my family and personal life as well. I overcame them by focusing on small goals, trying to be less hard on myself, prioritizing sleep and self-care, and finding a really amazing therapist. I am also very determined and kept going because I knew the reward would be so sweet. 

Q: Is there someone at UC San Diego who made a difference while you were here?

MA: Isaac Brandl and Robert Jaffe at Recreation have really pushed me to grow and have given me ample space to develop professionally and as a person. I have changed so much since I started working for Rec and a lot of it is because I had two people that believed in me, telling me I could do it. 

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

MA: I will be working as a research associate studying reproductive microbiomes! Eventually, I want to become a doctor, specifically an OBGYN. I want to make music and travel the world. I want maybe 3 or 5 dogs. My ultimate goal is to open a clinic that offers accessible and affordable sexual healthcare to those that need it. Hoping to get an MD/MBA to make it happen!

Liana Alves, Ph.D. in Chemistry

Q: How do you feel about graduating?

LA: Graduate or turn into a pumpkin ...I choose to graduate.

Q: Is there someone at UC San Diego who made a difference while you were here?

LA: My PI, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Alina Schimpf gave me the support I needed to grow. It was okay to make mistakes, ask questions, and give bizarre and strange ideas. The intellectual sanctuary of our lab is something I will miss dearly.  

Q: What is a favorite memory from UC San Diego?

LA: I’m on the UCSD Triathlon team. Every year we host a race called Tritionman in Mission Bay, San Diego (the birthplace of the triathlon) and we have people from all over the world come to our race, even Olympians. We put in long hours, starting at 3:30 a.m., but ultimately it is great to see people enjoying time outside and taking a dive into the swim-bike-run life.    

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

LA: I want to do something creative in science, buy a piano, climb a mountain, and see the elusive La Jolla Shores turtle.

Julia Chang, B.Sc. Mathematics-Economics, minor in Business

Q: Were you involved in a project or campus organization? What was your role? How did it impact you?

JC: I have been heavily involved in Triton Consulting Group (TCG) during my time at UC San Diego. Last year, I served as the VP of Internal Development and was responsible for recruiting and training new analysts. During that time, I grew immensely in my leadership and mentorship skills and have mentored three people through the TCG Mentor-Mentee program. This year, I had the honor of spending my time leading the organization as the president and have been able to see our club go through immense growth and change. This includes adding a technical track, attracting 140+ students per recruitment cycle, and training 50+ analysts over the academic year. TCG has impacted me greatly by first teaching me the practical skills and insights to excel in the business world and then providing me the opportunity to lead and grow with peers around me.

Q: What is a favorite memory from UC San Diego?

JC: My favorite memory is from a retreat with Triton Consulting Group. We visited Joshua Tree for a couple of days and hiked around the park. It was just overall a restful and joyful time to enjoy nature and get closer to my peers at the club. During the time we spent there, it was evident that the club wasn't just a consulting club, but rather a community and friend group where we all supported and enjoyed each other.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

JC: I hope to stay in management consulting for a few years to continue exploring numerous industries and careers. Looking forward, I hope to get an MBA and find a niche that I am passionate about and can have a meaningful impact on. 

 Alison McAnally, B.Sc in Physics, emphasis in Material Physics

Q: Is there someone at UC San Diego who made a difference while you were here?

AM: Postdoctoral Scholar Abby Kopec was my mentor when conducting research. She led me through the thought processes of data analysis and perseverance despite error-ridden code.  

Q: Were you involved in a project or campus organization? What was your role? How did it impact you?

AM: I conducted research on electron bursts as a student in the McNair Scholars Program. My best friend was in this program, and I constantly recommended it to those who qualify, especially when I was the head of scholarship for my sorority, Phi Sigma Rho. I am passionate about closing the education gap between social classes, and this program is designed for just that. 

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

AM: I plan on continuing my physics education with a master’s degree, and will be applying to UCSD next year. After that, my goal is to attend CU Boulder to pursue a PhD in pedagogy and curriculum development to determine the best way of introducing physics to those with limited math education.

 Sophie Nguyen, B.Sc in Biochemistry

Q: Were you involved in a project or campus organization? What was your role? How did it impact you?

SN: I am a part of the American Chemical Society - Student Affiliates (ACS-SA). We are a pre-professional and social organization for students passionate about chemistry. As president this past year, I ran weekly officer meetings with our team and worked with them to plan and execute our weekly events. I’m very proud to be a part of this organization because of the impact we have on our community. Hearing how our events are helping students academically or career-wise and seeing them make friends through our club are just a couple of reasons that I am passionate about being a part of ACS-SA. 

Q: Did you experience any challenges on your path to completing your degree?

SN: I struggled in Organic Chemistry my second year. During my first quarter of the course, I just could not grasp the concepts as well as I wanted to. I was encouraged by my peers in ACS-SA to take the honors series for the second and third quarter. I was skeptical because I thought I would perform even worse in the honors series; however, it was the opposite! I found a great study group who helped me understand the mechanisms, and I am very thankful to them.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

SN: My aspiration is to become the leader of a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company.

 Aidan Tice-Raskin, B.Sc in Biochemistry

Q: Is there someone at UC San Diego who made a difference while you were here?

ATR: My mentor was definitely my supervisor, Undergraduate Affairs Manager Van Lee-Yamamoto. She transitioned into her current position in the chemistry department at the same time I transitioned into my position as the lead peer advisor for Chempeers. Having someone else going through the transition alongside me was extremely helpful and I know I would not have succeeded as much as I did without her help and motivation.

Q: Were you involved in a project or campus organization? What was your role? How did it impact you?

ATR: I am passionate about Tau Sigma, a transfer honors society. I was fortunate enough to have a leadership position my first year at UCSD, and I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to be part of this organization. The transfers I have met and my peers that I work alongside have taught me so much about the diversity of the transfer experience. Because UCSD is such a large school, people can feel like they can't find their niche, but Tau Sigma was my niche. I suggest that every UCSD student finds their equivalent.