Want to know how physics are at play in our world? Listen to Jenn Laskowski, a student in the Physics (BS) – Secondary Education program.

“Physics can be applied to almost anything and it never stops changing. New discoveries are being made all the time,” said Laskowski, who plans to graduate in 2017.

“While solving problems takes a lot of effort and concentration, it’s worth it – and mind blowing – to be able to understand how things in our world work.”

Laskowski learned early on how educational – and entertaining – physics can be when she took her first class in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “The class for general education was the most fun class I’ve had so far,” she said.

One day she found herself sitting in a psychology class thinking about the coefficient of friction between her chair and the ground. That’s when she knew she had to major in physics.

By making connections between her laboratory and classroom experiences, she has been able to further understand difficult-to-grasp concepts. Laskowski is seeing how physics is applied in everyday life, and is thankful to her professors for opening her eyes.

“Want to know how far a ball will go when you throw it up in the air? Use the principles of physics. Physics can be very challenging, but the professors here make it fun and interesting. They are always willing to help and encourage students,” she said.

Laskowski’s career goal is to be a high school physics teacher. She hopes to inspire in her students an appreciation of physics and science in general.

“I want to get them thinking about how everything in the universe works and fits together,” she said. “I want to use the knowledge and experience from my degree to think critically about what happens around us, and inspire others to do the same.”