Current Student Spotlight:
Austin Raper '13

Future optometrist

Member of Mount Union’s Pre-Health Professions Club

MY EXCEPTIONAL STORY

High quality institution
I’ve always known about Mount Union because I live relatively close to campus. The feedback I heard about the University was very positive, and my family and friends regard Mount Union as a high quality institution. I chose to attend Mount Union because I believed, and still do, that Mount Union would go the furthest in helping me achieve my goals. In addition, I preferred the smaller student body as opposed to large campuses like the University of Akron or Kent State University.

Interest and care
What I enjoy most about Mount Union is the amount of interest and care that the professors give the students. Every single professor I have encountered thus far has been wonderfully accommodating to my individual needs as a student. They have been very supportive of my goals and sincerely hope I succeed. Plus, having a close-knit community of students has allowed me to make close friends with students who share similar life goals and values.

Bracy Science Hall
If I could take a visitor to one place on campus, I would take him or her to Bracy Science Hall. As a student, this is where I spend the majority of my time and I am definitely fortunate to be able to do so. I find this building to be very intriguing because every exhibit on display within the building sparks my curiosity. Science is my passion so it is no wonder that I find this particular building to be the premier place on campus.

Countless hours in the lab
My favorite hands-on experience so far has been the many hours I have spent in the lab over the past two years. Conducting experiments and working with delicate instruments has been a tremendous learning experience. I have often thought to myself that I would not mind making a career out of lab research because of how much I enjoy working in the lab. Even writing the inevitable reports after lab doesn’t seem like a chore! It is during these reports that I really begin to understand what we are discussing in the classroom.

Valuable information and knowledge
So far, Organic Chemistry I and II have been my favorite classes. I’ve gained an immense amount of valuable information and knowledge through these courses that I can guarantee I will use them in the future. Dr. Benjamin Burlingham is an excellent professor and is partially responsible for my favoritism towards organic chemistry. He presented the material in such a way that it made perfect sense to me. I was able to visualize exactly what he was saying in order to gain a deeper understanding of the material. I was astounded at the impact organic molecules make within our bodies and was eager to learn more throughout the year.

Organic chemistry genius
Dr. Benjamin Burlingham has been my favorite teacher up to this point. We were the last class of students that he taught at the University of Mount Union, which makes the time I had studying under him even more meaningful. Through countless hours of lab work, I was able to get to know him well. I discovered that, along with being an organic chemistry genius, he is a man of impeccable character. I could clearly see that he wanted his students to succeed. I was inspired to learn that he is leaving the academic realm to become a minister within the next few years. I found this leap of faith to be encouraging and a constant reminder to not ignore what God is persistently calling you to do.

Dream job
My ultimate goal is to one day become a practicing optometrist. I realize that the road to becoming a doctor is not easy, but I am willing to give it my all in order to accomplish this goal. I became interested in the profession during high school as I spent many days at the optometrist’s office fighting an eye infection. I was fascinated by the way the doctors treated my condition. From that time forward, I was particularly interested in the field of optometry, and I eventually decided to set my sights on one day becoming an eye doctor.

Back to Previous Page