Leo Liu

Greatest change since your first year

Prior to attending Wake Forest, I had no predisposed idea of college life and certainly felt lost during my first few semesters. Over time, I began to form a nascent interest in studying the natural world, which eventually transformed into the pursuit of obtaining a Ph.D. in chemistry. Recognizing and actualizing that deeper passion could have only been made possible by a rigorous and purposeful intellectual exploration during my undergraduate years.

Most meaningful non-academic experience

Outside of the classroom, I’ve always enjoyed attending the Wake Forest sports games with friends. I will always remember the electric atmosphere of the student sections, especially for football and basketball. Go Deacs!

Impact of Pro Humanitate

Our university’s Pro Humanitate motto has been a cornerstone philosophy that has shaped my desire to tackle real-world challenges. In a world defined by complex, interconnected problems, there are countless ways to contribute to meaningful solutions, ranging from the physical sciences to global policy. For me, chemistry became the medium through which I could work towards advancing sustainability and renewable energy in the battle against the global climate crisis.

Favorite Wake Forest tradition

Definitely rolling the quad after a big win! Seeing the trees decorated with toilet paper is certainly a sight to behold. You can almost frame it and hang it up the Louvre next to the Mona Lisa! (I’ll call it, “La forêt de papier toilette.”)

Most influential person(s) in your journey

Throughout my undergraduate journey, there have been countless professors and people, both within the chemistry department and among the Wake Forest community, who have shaped me not only as a student, but also as a person finding his way in the world. While it’s easy to feel lost when searching for direction in college, I have been fortunate to have an amazing support system during moments of doubt and uncertainty about my future.

Most rewarding student experience

As an aspiring Ph.D. student and scientist, I attribute much of my development and passion for science to my undergraduate research experience within Wake Forest’s Department of Chemistry. I have had the opportunity to experience a wide breadth of chemical research on campus, which greatly influenced my career plans to become a scientist. Whether you’re looking to pursue chemistry, physics, or any of the other disciplines, there are plenty of opportunities in each department if you are willing to take the initiative to seek them out!

What you’d tell your first-year self

I wish I could’ve told the following to myself four years ago:

You are going to face many disappointments; some of them will be out of your control, and some of them you wish you would’ve done differently. During these periods of uncertainty, be sure to learn to seek out guidance and help early on so that you can learn to rebound back stronger. And most importantly, to truly overcome these challenges, you will have to make the final effort to grow and adapt in response to them.

Evolution of your career plans

I had initially entered college with the notion that I wanted to pursue a career in the humanities or practice the law. Gradually, I recognized a more profound passion for the sciences, and for chemistry in particular. This inclination to pursue a career in academia could not have been foreshadowed prior to attending Wake Forest. My parents had immigrated to the United States without having possessed an educational background beyond middle school, but they stressed the importance of obtaining a higher education. Growing up in Queens, New York, I spent many afternoons in a small local library, developing a love for reading and fantastical stories. I had not developed a precocity for mathematics, nor any of the sciences. Even in high school, I took the bare minimum of math and science classes.

My plans shifted when I became involved in undergraduate research my sophomore year. I began to view chemistry as a “magical” discipline where you can express your creativity to create infinitesimally small, and powerful, molecular entities. I soon set my sights on graduate school to obtain a Ph.D. with the goal of continuing to investigate the world’s most pressing problems after my studies.

Occasionally, doubts about whether I could find success or belonging in academia arose over the course of my undergraduate journey. Nevertheless, those doubts slowly faded as I reflected on three fundamental questions: Would I enjoy studying chemistry for the rest of my life? Does my work contribute to improving the lives of others? And do I see myself growing into a leader in the field? To each of these questions, my answer is yes.