Cornelius BraJion Salonis

As a junior in high school, I was immensely captivated by my Chemistry class. Learning about atomic orbitals, ground state configurations, ionic bonding, and charges helped sharpen my preexisting interest in the sciences.

Growing up, I already had an inclination toward STEM, but with no outlet or guidance, it was a dwindling passion. This changed at the start of my senior year of high school with the formal introduction to my first physics course. My teacher at the time, Dr. Stevens, inspired me to delve deeper into the mathematical equations that constitute almost all of physics. The derivations, formulation, and indication of something larger at work evoked such a feeling within me that I knew I had found the right path.

In order to break the rules, you must first know the rules. For me, the very concept of physics and its philosophical implications fuel my research and related endeavors. Since I was young, I had always held certain beliefs and ideas about reality that I could never really explain, with the notion of planet Earth being alive being a hallmark.

My aspirations are limitless. I am a physicist, but I am not just a physicist. For me, my degree is only the beginning—a stepping stone. Earning my bachelor’s in physics is important and critical to who I am, but it does not define the entirety of who I am. I plan to eventually earn my PhD in the field, along with degrees in math and engineering, as I consider these three disciplines the holy trinity of STEM. However, I will also pursue much more beyond STEM.

Life is boundless, and I refuse to restrict myself to only one of my passions. I want to be a Grandmaster in chess, an acclaimed photographer, to utilize my voice more, to teach, to be a chef, a marathon runner, and a gymnast. I want to live a full life!