As the 2011-2012 Gamma Beta Phi President, Caroline Ward is not only a chem-whiz, but she is also dedicated to helping other students maintain good grades and get involved in the community. The Chemistry senior from Arlington, TX, first got involved with Gamma Beta Phi, a service organization requiring a GPA in OU’s top 20 percent, at the end of her freshman year. She became a member and acted as chapter secretary before being elected GBP president for the 2011-12 term. “I enjoyed being the secretary, but felt that I could accomplish more with the organization by being president,” Caroline said.
Caroline notes that while grades are important, members also volunteer around the Norman and Oklahoma City metro area. She stays busy attending all the GBP service events, as any presient should. Her plans for GBP this year focus on getting the attendance up at service events. “What’s the point of being a GBP member if you don’t participate? It’s a service organization first,” she said.
When asked what you do with a chemsitry degree, Caroline laughed and said, “what do you do with a chemistry degree anyway? I went down the pre-med road for a semester or two, then I realized that was not my calling.” Caroline recently applied for the national program Teach for America and, if accepted, she hopes to teach math and/or science to inner-city students.
If none of this works out, she jokes, “at least I can use the ‘bossing people around skills’ I gained with GBP to do something else.” GBP has helped Caroline improve her communication and time-management skills immensely. “I have become a master at mass emails,” said Caroline. “I feel like I would be a good fit managing other people, like I do every day with GBP.”
When it comes to OU, Caroline is all about football, since she loves game day and the family atmosphere.”OU has a close-knit community feel, and I really enjoy being on a well-known public campus without feeling oershadowed by 50,000 other students, like I might be at some other big schools… perhaps one in Austin,” said Caroline.
For fun in Norman, Caroline enjoys going to Campus Corner (go figure) to eat and shop. “New York Pizza and Fuzzy’s are where it’s at,” she said. Caroline lives with her twin sister (the author of this feature) and says, “rooming with Jill is so normal, it’s like brushing my teeth every morning. We shared a room until we were 12 and we are still sharing a bathroom.”
Caroline says students looking to get involved on campus should join a club, go to football games, or speak up in class. “I joined GBP on a whim, and look where I am now. I’ve made great friends through the experience,” said Caroline. “It sounds cheesy, but getting involved was the best thing I ever did at OU.”
The best advice Caroline has ever received is to “find out who you are, and do it on purpose.” Okay, so Dolly Parton didn’t actually tell her this, but Caroline believes it’s important to stay true to who you are. I’m sure Dolly would be proud.