Clarkson Student Spotlight: June '09
Joy Lao '10
Chemical Engineering major with a biomolecular concentration
Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience minors
Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Joy keeps herself busy at Clarkson by participating in the Society of Women Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. She's also a mentor to her peers by working as a teaching assistant for MATLAB. But what makes Joy tick? Let's find out.
Q: Why did you choose Clarkson?
A: Clarkson reminded me of a small community, like my high school. I also liked the school's philosophy of "learning for life, not for school" with the focus on real-world application versus just getting a degree.
Q: What are your favorite aspects about Clarkson?
A: My experience here has been all about connections. I love how there's so much interaction between professors and students, but I also love how close you get to the other students in your major and classes, even if you're different class years. The people here are just so genuine.
Q: Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
A: I am a huge classics buff. I love learning about ancient Greece and I speak Latin. Everyone sees me as a engineering person, so that aspect is a little hidden, until I start speaking in Latin!
Q: What has been your favorite class so far?
A: This is a tough one. Can I have three favorites? I always loved going to History of Medicine, Neuroscience & Society, and the Psychology of Psychoactive Drugs. Definitely interesting stuff!
Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Reading Cosmo, watching MTV and eating lots of candy. I have a big bag of Skittles in my backpack right now!
Q: Who is your hero?
A: I have two. My personal hero is my mother. She sacrificed a lot for me and I hope to be a great mom like her someday. My career aspiration hero is Helm Holtz. He was this incredible multidisciplinary philosopher/engineer who discovered a lot of amazing things that are relatable to life.
Q: What are you doing this summer?
A: I'm going to Europe to travel for a couple of weeks and then interning at Procter & Gamble for the third summer in a row! They keep giving me more responsibility, so I keep going back.
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I have always wanted to become a neurologist, even though I'm an engineering major. I like the idea of having that diverse technology background and applying it to other fields.
Q: What is your favorite smell?
A: It's definitely the smell of spring in Potsdam. It's like a fresh start after five months of winter!
Q: If you could reincarnate as any animal, what would it be?
A: I've always wanted to be a giraffe, partly because I'm so short and it would be nice to be able to reach tall things, but mostly because I'd love to be able to look at world with a more vast point of view. Giraffes also seem so kind-hearted and gentle.
Want to see more Clarkson student profiles? Click here!
Chemical Engineering major with a biomolecular concentration
Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience minors
Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Joy keeps herself busy at Clarkson by participating in the Society of Women Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. She's also a mentor to her peers by working as a teaching assistant for MATLAB. But what makes Joy tick? Let's find out.
Q: Why did you choose Clarkson?
A: Clarkson reminded me of a small community, like my high school. I also liked the school's philosophy of "learning for life, not for school" with the focus on real-world application versus just getting a degree.
Q: What are your favorite aspects about Clarkson?
A: My experience here has been all about connections. I love how there's so much interaction between professors and students, but I also love how close you get to the other students in your major and classes, even if you're different class years. The people here are just so genuine.
Q: Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
A: I am a huge classics buff. I love learning about ancient Greece and I speak Latin. Everyone sees me as a engineering person, so that aspect is a little hidden, until I start speaking in Latin!
Q: What has been your favorite class so far?
A: This is a tough one. Can I have three favorites? I always loved going to History of Medicine, Neuroscience & Society, and the Psychology of Psychoactive Drugs. Definitely interesting stuff!
Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Reading Cosmo, watching MTV and eating lots of candy. I have a big bag of Skittles in my backpack right now!
Q: Who is your hero?
A: I have two. My personal hero is my mother. She sacrificed a lot for me and I hope to be a great mom like her someday. My career aspiration hero is Helm Holtz. He was this incredible multidisciplinary philosopher/engineer who discovered a lot of amazing things that are relatable to life.
Q: What are you doing this summer?
A: I'm going to Europe to travel for a couple of weeks and then interning at Procter & Gamble for the third summer in a row! They keep giving me more responsibility, so I keep going back.
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I have always wanted to become a neurologist, even though I'm an engineering major. I like the idea of having that diverse technology background and applying it to other fields.
Q: What is your favorite smell?
A: It's definitely the smell of spring in Potsdam. It's like a fresh start after five months of winter!
Q: If you could reincarnate as any animal, what would it be?
A: I've always wanted to be a giraffe, partly because I'm so short and it would be nice to be able to reach tall things, but mostly because I'd love to be able to look at world with a more vast point of view. Giraffes also seem so kind-hearted and gentle.
Want to see more Clarkson student profiles? Click here!
