Ama Boamah ’23
Meet the Majors
Other clubs, sports and activities you'd like to mention:
Posse Scholar, McKinley Fellow, Chemistry liaison, BSA Five College Representative, Northrop Health Representative
What would you do with your major if you knew you could not fail?
If I knew I could not fail, I would get a Ph.D. in physical chemistry with a concentration in quantum chemistry. After my doctorate, I will teach it as a professor and, maybe, further prove some of the concepts by Max Planck and Albert Einstein.
What's one secret about chemistry that you wish more people knew about?
Chemistry is about application and practice and less about memorization.
What's one piece of advice you'd like to share about your time at Smith?
One piece of advice I will share about my time at Smith is always to advocate for oneself. We often find ourselves supporting and putting in lots of energy for others. But when it comes to us, we forget to put the same energy into fighting for what we need and want on the Smith campus.
Describe one moment from a lab or experiment that particularly sticks with you.
One moment in a lab that stuck with me was when I had to use the shower and eye stations. In our chemistry lab courses, we are always taught the importance of safety and the proper measures to undertake during a chemical emergency. I never knew these safety reminders' usefulness until I found myself in a chemical spill. Because of my chemistry lab courses, I undertook the correct procedure that lessened the effects of what I could have gone through had I not known and performed the proper safety measure.
What's your all-time (big or small) favorite Smith memory?
My favorite Smith memory was being able to spend a full academic year on campus last school year. It was an absolute pleasure to enjoy all the seasons and live the whole college experience while studying and interacting in a classroom setting.
What was the best advice about your major that you were ever given?
I can use a chemistry degree for many different things. As a chemistry major, I thought my only avenue options after Smith was either in health, industry, or academia. But from interactions with faculty, alums, and visiting speakers, I know my chemistry degree can be used in government, law, writing, art, etc.
