I became interested in chemistry when a cyanide heap leach gold mine behind my parent's ranch polluted the water supply. As my family investigated the reasons for the animals dying, I became interested in the different molecules and why they caused these effects. I also always liked math and since chemistry is very math-based it was one way for me to apply my passion. Furthermore, you can get TA and RA stipends when attending graduate school in chemistry, so this allowed me to receive higher education without having large loans.