What is your background? Hometown? High school? Family members?: I was born and raised right next to Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I am a proud graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. I have one brother, Mike and one sister, Hanna. My mother is an amazing woman and I am blessed to have her in my life.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: I came to Kirkwood after studying Operatic Vocal Performance at Simpson College and Vocal Music Education at Coe College. I came here because I needed to get a good foundation for my math and science skills before transferring to the University of Iowa. I am happy that I came to Kirkwood. It’s a wonderful place to learn.
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: I have two programs of study in physics and astronomy. I love thinking and I love learning and a field in science, especially as astrophysics/theoretical physics provides a great deal of opportunity for me to do both. It is amazing to ponder how our cosmos works, how we came to be, who we truly are, and our purpose as human beings. It is also fun to look through a telescope and peer back into the distant past. It’s like traveling in a cosmic time machine to places beyond our comprehension in a realm of nearly infinite possibility. Studying our cosmos is a humbling experience and I am proud and lucky to have the chance to do just that. I get to spread my love of learning and science to the world around me and hopefully make the world a better place in the process.
Are you involved in anything else on campus? If so, what and why?: I am currently the treasurer of the Kirkwood STEM Club. It’s a blast and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes science and/or technology. I am involved in STEM club because a lot of my friends from class are in it as well and we get to learn a lot as well as travel to cool places as a team! I am also a mathematics tutor in the Math Emporium. By helping others to learn I also learn more than I could at any lecture. I am lucky to have so many great opportunities in my life.
Are you involved in anything off of campus? If so, what and why?: I am also involved in the Cedar Amateur Astronomers organization. I am still relatively new but it is a wonderful place for our community. We have public nights as well as member nights and all are welcome to come and learn about our universe. I am involved in this organization because I love astronomy. I also like to help out my former boss, Aaron Barnard, of Barnard Instrument repair with his small business. I am lucky to have him as part of my life.
What do you do for fun?: I like to work out and play video games. I also love to read and hang out with my friends. I just wish there was more time for everything I like to do!
Where do you see yourself in five years?: It is always hard to answer this sort of question. Five years ago I would have never imagined that I would be where I am today. I am glad things changed my life and the road has been full of surprises. I am sure that trend will continue.
I hope that I will be a scientist, involved with astrophysics, doing research while pursuing my education at a grad school level. Although it is uncertain where I will end up I am sure that my time at Kirkwood will help me to be successful both inside and outside the classroom.