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Ruby Epstein '25 - PAC Captain

Major: Biochemistry   

91¶¶Òù Me: I’m from Brooklyn NY. In my free time I love going on walks in Northwoods, learning new recipes, and  playing tabletop games with friends.

Why PAC?: I have benefited so much from attending PAC, and I am excited to share the collaborative learning process as a PAC coach. I have found that there is nothing more satisfying than talking through a hard problem until it all makes sense.

Favorite class and why?: I loved Organic Chemistry I. Learning about the fundamental principles guiding organic reactions was fascinating and it really solidified my choice to pursue a chemistry major.

Academic Advice: Dedicate space to studying. There are many time management techniques for focus out there, but I have found the most useful piece of advice has been to find a location that is only for studying to get you into the right headspace.

Athena Braverman '27

Major: Biochemistry 

91¶¶Òù me: I'm from Long Island, New York. I'm on the volleyball team and in my free time I love reading, listening to music, hanging with friends and trying new foods.

Why PAC?: Attending PAC in the past has benefited me within my classes. I'm eager to share my study methods and help others find success in their classes. I'm excited to offer students a safe and productive place to ask questions and learn.

Favorite class and why: My favorite class so far has been Organic Chemistry I. I loved learning about mechanisms and the way reactions work. I also loved the lab piece of this class as we performed our own reactions and worked with new equipment. 

Academic advice: My biggest piece of advice is to start studying early. Things pile up quickly and the more proactive you are the more success you will find. Also, having a study partner/friend is very beneficial to bounce ideas off of each other and just to have someone to make the class more enjoyable.

Holden Caney '27  

91¶¶Òù me: Hi, my name is Holden and I am from Westport, CT. I am a catcher on the baseball team here at Skidmore. Back home I volunteer as an EMT and play with my dog, Ginger.

Why PAC?: At the time of writing this, I have never actually been to PAC, but I know that it has benefited a lot of my friends. I hope that I can help other students with chemistry and maybe learn something too!

Favorite Class and Why: I loved my Scribner Seminar-Sport, Self, and Society. It was taught by Professor Segrave. We had a lot of fun in that class, I found the content very interesting, and the subjects were relatable.  

Academic Advice: Sleep is wildly underappreciated in an academic setting. Sometimes it's better to get to bed early as opposed to staying up super late studying. 

Isabelle Crampton '26

Major: Biochemistry      Minor: Periclean Honors Forum  

91¶¶Òù me: I’m from Fredericksburg, VA. I am on Skidmore’s swim team as a distance swimmer, and I have recently gotten into open water swimming! I LOVE being in lab and will talk to anyone at any time about it. 

Why PAC?: I think chemistry knowledge is so valuable whether you’re planning on going into a chemistry career or not, and a lot of people are turned away from the subject because of its difficulty, especially in CH 125. I hope to help students get through the chemistry knowledge barrier! 

Favorite Class and Why: I loved CH 341 because I was learning more about the research I do daily and further practicing lab skills.

Academic Advice: Find a space just for yourself to study and hide away so that you don’t get distracted

Cormac Feeley '25

Major: Chemistry       

91¶¶Òù me: I'm from Berwick, Maine. In my free time I love playing board games, listening to music, and rock climbing.

Why PAC?: I really love the mission statement of PAC and think it is really important to create this valuable study space for students. I think people often underestimate the power of working through a problem with your peers and I'm excited to help facilitate that space.

Favorite Class and Why?: I absolutely adored Organic Chemistry II. I loved how it expanded on the foundations of organic to show you the different reactions and applications of organic chemistry. 

Academic Advice: Remember to take things one step at a time. It's important to plan out your work but make sure not to get bogged down with how much there is. If you only focus on how much there is to do, you'll never get anything done.

Lyra Flinn '25 

Major: Chemistry    

91¶¶Òù Me: I'm from Eugene, Oregon. I love spending time outside doing just about anything, but especially hiking, skiing, and camping! I also enjoy road tripping and have been getting very into cooking. 

Why PAC: As a freshman, I really benefitted from the work environment PAC created. Even if I didn't have a specific question, PAC was always a productive space. I am excited to give other students this same space!

Favorite Class and Why: My favorite class so far has been CH 125. I loved getting to be in an actual lab after online school, and the class really sparked my interest in chemistry! 

Academic Advice: Find peers to work with. Everybody's brain works a little differently, so be open to learning from your classmates as well as your professors. And it can make studying more fun!

Natasha Machera '25

Major: Biochemistry   

91¶¶Òù Me: I’m from Zimbabwe. I am a huge fan of 70s music, and my favorite band is Fleetwood Mac. Outside of class you will probably finding me writing poetry. 

Why PAC?: I love to hear out people's different ideas. The best part about Chemistry is there's never one way to get an answer so I'm always curious if there is another way to do this. 

Favorite class and why?: I loved Principles of Chemistry 125! This class gives you the basic foundations of Chemistry. It helped me understand some of the building blocks I use in my higher classes today.

Academic Advice: Always have a good set of study questions, remember the things that you fail are the things you will most likely remember in an exam. So, embrace it. 

Jonathan Sonstein '26    

Major: Biochemistry      

91¶¶Òù me: I am from NYC.  I like watching/playing sports and spending time with friends and family.

Why PAC?: I benefited from PAC ever since my first semester of freshman year. It’s an overall great environment and helpful academically.

Favorite classes and why: My favorite class was Organic Chemistry I. I found the materials and mechanisms fascinating and I loved how all the content built up on each other.

Academic Advice: Try not to wait until the last minute to study for a test or to start an assignment. I would say the key is to get a head start on the material and do a little bit day by day. Always practice problems until you are fully comfortable and never be afraid to seek help.