In third grade, senior Elyse Walker learned how to make oobleck, like in Bartholomew and the Oobleck. 

She, along with all of her classmates, rolled up her sleeves to mix cornstarch and sat in awe as solids became liquids and the liquids became solids. 

Adding to her Dr. Seuss science experiment, elementary school science introduced Elyse to not only have fun as she played with the slime-like substance, but also to love a subject that would stick with her beyond eight years old. 

“I was just curious as to why things worked,” Elyse said, “and I just find that really interesting because you can go so deep into it.” 

Even before her first science experiment, Elyse was always a curious person. Exploring the mechanics of objects and processes throughout her life has only furthered this curiosity and narrowed her into what she really wants to do with her future: pharmacology. 

“As you learn more, you figure out what specifically you’re interested [in],” Elyse said. “I became interested in the human body just because there are so many different parts that interact with each other, and you need a lot of background in science in order to understand how things are going to act or why they act the way they do.”

Throughout her high school career, Elyse has taken numerous classes that will help her in her future, including Human Anatomy and Physiology, biology classes through GVSU, and now AP Chemistry. 

With these all, she has found a love for not only actual science but also researching. 

“I like the research aspects of working—not really alone—but you’re working alongside people,” Elyse said, “but you’re focused on that research and just the chemical reactions between pharmaceuticals.”

As she works through the science classes at FHC and beyond, she gains knowledge pertinent to her future in pharmaceuticals, and beyond the knowledge, Elyse enjoys a challenge. Though sometimes her classes are easy for her, she is always searching for something harder. Outside of the classroom, she finds an obstacle with rowing. 

“Rowing helps me see growth because you have [race] times,” Elyse said, “so you can see yourself getting better, and I don’t get that much in school. So it helps with that, and it’s a good outlet because some of the [high school] courses aren’t very challenging, so it really helps me stay determined and practice working hard at something because I know college courses are really tough comparatively.”

Whether it is through the deeper lessons of her sport or the content of her classes, Elyse is preparing for her future. 

She isn’t only leaning towards pharmacology for the science and challenge, though. Elyse wants to make a difference in the world, but she doesn’t necessarily want to talk with all of the patients. 

“I want to be able to help people in the future,” Elyse said, “but my [people] skills aren’t very good.”

No matter who she interacts with, Elyse is constantly working towards a better world. Whether she is helping to find a cure for cancer or just researching ways to reduce pain, Elyse will use who she is now and what she has learned through her life to help others.

“I’m proud of being a good person,” Elyse said, “like being good in school—although that’s what a lot of people are proud of—sure I like that I’m good at it, but I’m not very proud of it. I’m [more] proud of being a good person and just helping others I guess.”