SciTech Alumni - L. Beth Thompson
Name:
Thompson, L. Beth
Class Year:
1999
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Major:
Chemistry
Hometown:
Mannington, W.Va.
Biography:
I graduated from North Marion High School in 1991 and received a B.S. in Chemistry from Fairmont State in 1999. My past jobs of interest include adjunct faculty member for Fairmont State's Chemistry Department, math and science mentor for Compuhigh (an online private school) and adult education coordinator. In addition, I have served as a board member for several nonprofit educational groups, including the W.Va. Home Educator's Association and Learning Options Inc. I am currently attending Penn State University as a first-year graduate student in the chemistry Ph.D. program. I have recently joined Dr. Barbara Garrison's research group, and I will be studying laser ablation and its effects on various surfaces. I enjoy spending time with my husband, Michael, and our four children, ages 5-10, visiting my extended family and friends in West Virginia and spending time outdoors.
What advice would you give current or prospective students?:
Make sure that you are pursuing what your heart tells you to -- if you aren't where you want to be, do something to change it.
What was the most important thing you learned while attending Fairmont State?:
I learned that if something is important enough, you will return to it. I love chemistry, and I keep coming back to it even when I have to take "breaks" for life (like the births of four children). I also learned that living a full personal life doesn't have to conflict with leading an enriching academic life.
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