I went to a quaint college nestled in the western foothills of Vermont named Castleton University. It was there that I pursued my fascination in all living things micro and molecular. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology and chemistry in 2019, I took a job as a biology teacher at a small private high school in Vermont. While teaching, I became aware of my deep love for illuminating those around me with wonders of biology and, specifically, infectious diseases. I realized towards the end of my first year as a teacher that I wanted to harness this energy and pursue a life full of chasing infectious diseases and fighting the perils of their microbial afflictions by informing and supporting people around me.
And so, with the support of previous professors, I was encouraged to delve into the field of public health—a field foreign to me at the time. After much examination and research, I came to the conclusion that seeking a Master’s degree at a public health school would be the initial doorway to pursuing the field of epidemiology. With my new found ambitions, I settled on the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. ColoradoSPH’s program was robust and the beauty of the CU Anschutz campus backed by the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains filled me with excitement and wonder.
Upon being accepted into the school, I was elated. However, those feelings began to mix with emotions of concern as I began to prepare for my journey westward while also hearing about the early signs of a potential pandemic, COVID-19.
Angela Golding
EurekAlert
