Noyce Scholar Profile
Olivia Baser
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Secondary Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Chemistry, grades 10-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Arizona State University/ STARR Noyce Scholarship
Current academic or teaching status:
Junior
School and school district:
Tempe High School, Tempe Union High School District
Background:
I come from a fairly normal, middle class family. I don’t know if my dad saw a love for science in me early on, but it was something he always encouraged. I don’t think a day went by that he didn’t read me part of a book or an article about some scientific subject. On top of that, he is a high school government and history teacher, so for years I have been able to watch the enjoyment he has gotten out of teaching and really reaching out to help his students. His love of and dedication to his career have always been an example to me.
Why do you want to teach:
I think high school science classes get a bad reputation as being boring or too difficult. This could cause a lot of students with great potential to shy away from the field of science when choosing a career. I want to teach in order to show students that science is obtainable and exciting; I want my enthusiasm for it to help increase theirs.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
This isn’t a particular experience, but it’s what means the most to me. I had an incredible college prep/AP Chemistry teacher my sophomore and junior year of high school. She single-handedly made me decide I was going to study chemistry. In my junior year, I would often help out with one of her college prep chemistry class. It was so much fun to help other students understand the concepts and to make the class a little easier for them. My favorite thing was when the teacher would let me do class demos like putting sodium and potassium in water. The other students thought it was funny. I was so excited to do things like that, but it helped them to have fun with it too. It was in that class I realized how fulfilling and enjoyable teaching could be for me.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program really seems like a sign that I’m making the right career choice. Financially, it is not just nice to have the extra money, it is necessary. There is no way I would be able to afford to go to school without it, and I’m so grateful I don’t have to go into debt either! The support and opportunities surrounding the program are also incredible. Already, I have participated in the STARR Noyce internship at the Arizona Science Center and was able to learn so much there! I think all of the amenities the program offers will really give me a head start on my career. I think I will be a more effective teacher right out of college and have a lot of experience and help that many teachers never get the opportunity to have.
