For my undergraduate thesis at Reed I had the opportunity to work with Mir Bowring studying the effects of hydrogen bonding on a protonolysis reaction. I built fundamental computational modeling skills during this time and was able to follow up this experience with a post-baccalaureate. The following summer I performed H-NMR spectral analysis and made headway in recrystallizing our final product for analysis. Working in the lab was a pivotal experience for me in deciding to return to school and pursue my PhD.