I would never trade what Wartburg has given me

NAME: Oliviya Caruthers
CLASS YEAR: 2021
HOMETOWN: Davenport, Iowa 
MAJOR: Chemistry

ON-CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: Vice president of Kammerstreicher and cello player (Chamber Orchestra), Wartburg Community Orchestra double pass player, LSAMP IINspire

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: I chose Wartburg because of the great sense of community that the school had to offer. When I visited Wartburg, everyone made me feel that I mattered, and even in my third year, I still feel the same way.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR: I chose my major because it was something I was good at but still presented a challenge to me. At first, I may not have loved chemistry as much as I do now but learning how much of it is involved in our daily lives amazed me. I love to learn, and I feel that there is a lot more I can learn by pursuing the major that I have chosen.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: After I graduate, I hope to attend a graduate studies program to obtain a Ph. D. in chemical pathology. I really love learning, and recently I have found a home in the laboratory setting. I feel that I will find my path doing research in pathology, because I want to solve problems for people using the knowledge I have gained.  

WHAT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES HAVE YOU HAD: I have had research experiences both on and off campus. My first internship happened to be a program that I did through the IINspire program. I had done a project on chemical testing in water in a wetlands area near my home. On campus, I have worked on a genetics project in flies to observe female reproduction and how certain genes may alter their patterns.  

WHAT MAY TERM EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD: My very first May Term at Wartburg was spent traveling in Europe with the Wartburg Kammerstreicher and Castle Singers. I had the opportunity to travel through five different countries performing and connecting with the people there. I even had the amazing opportunity to visit and perform in the Wartburg Castle for which the school was named after.  

HOW HAVE THESE EXPPERIENCES PREPARED YOU FOR THE FUTURE: These experiences I’ve had at Wartburg have taught me a lot of different values. Not everything can be taught in the classroom, which is important, but Wartburg has helped me grow into the person I am supposed to become.  

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE WARTBURG EXPERIENCE: Christmas with Wartburg is my most memorable time of every school year. The weeks leading up to the performances are very stressful in trying to manage time. However, the audience makes everything worth it. To see them moved by the music that we have made as a school as various ensembles coming together is one of the most satisfying feelings.  

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU WOULD DO BEFORE COMING TO WARTBURG: One thing that I never thought that I would do was having the opportunity to travel abroad and that I would be able to go abroad for music. Now I’ve been able to do that twice. Traveling to new countries is something that is very inspiring to me, because we overcome the language barrier with music and can touch the hearts of many people.

WHY HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WORTH IT: Everything I have experienced has better prepared me for what is to come and has given me amazing opportunities I never thought I would have before. I would never trade what Wartburg has given me for anything else.