Paris Wills ’26 

Biochemistry major, mathematics minor 
Pursuing a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

What is your message for prospective students considering a science major?

I think the professors are really good, especially in the bio and chem departments, at helping mold you to find what you’re most interested in. Not only just in the classes, but in the labs you do. And then even in other conversations outside. That’s helped me narrow more of the path that I want to go. My advisor was the first one helping me look at research universities. All the professors really help and the resources here at St. Norbert very much helped me prepare for looking at what I want to do with my future and helped me apply myself.

Can you explain your experience at St. Norbert? 

It’s the place where I’ve met two of my best friends, hopefully for the rest of my life, and it’s also where I’ve been able to get all of my experience up to a point where I’m able to apply it further at UNL (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) for their graduate program and beyond there.  

How do you feel like you have grown and developed as an individual? 

When I was a senior in high school, I was definitely a little bit more introverted in general and while I knew what I wanted to do, I wasn’t as sure of how to do it. Since I’ve been here, I’ve definitely come out of my shell more. Definitely a bit more extroverted, more vocal to not only talk about myself or about research things, but being able to be more outward presenting has been really good.  

Closing thoughts as you approach graduation? 

I know that there are lots of colleges, lots of universities where you can get a lot of different experiences, class experiences, sports, friendships, all of that. But I’m really happy that I chose here because of the interactions with my professors, what I’ve been able to learn, the opportunities I’ve been given here and elsewhere, and the amount of leadership and and just knowledge that I’m able to now partake and bring to my next stage of life at UNL.