Name: Ashley Miller

Class: Freshman

Major: Microbiology, Chemistry and Mathematics

Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Clubs & Organizations: Methodist University Orchestra concertmaster, Tri-Beta associate member, Health Occupations Society secretary, American Chemical Society president, Honors Program

Favorite thing about MU: The ability to become close to your professors

Best moment at MU: Becoming concertmaster of an orchestra for the first time at the 2006 Friends of Music Christmas Concert

Favorite thing to do in Fayetteville: Go to Barnes and Noble or coffee shops with friends and sit around and talk

Internships, independent study or other interesting academic endeavors you’ve done while at MU: I am a volunteer laboratory assistant for the science department while attempting three majors

Your career aspirations: Go to graduate school for a doctorate in either Microbiology or Biochemistry to become a laboratory research scientist

Something about yourself that people would be surprised to know: I’m not as tough as I seem :)

Favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice

Favorite TV show: House, MD

Favorite book: Pride and Prejudice

Favorite color: PINK!

Do you prefer the beach or the mountains? The mountains

Fayetteville is my hometown. We’re not too far from the beach. We’re not far from the mountains. Fayetteville is a large city with a lot going on, even though it has a small-town feeling. Fourth Friday is a downtown event at the end of each month with vendors and live music. It’s like a street fair with extras. Of course, we have museums, live theater, rock concerts, the ballet and sports teams.

We also have a symphony orchestra—The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Their home is on the MU campus. I play the violin in the Methodist University Orchestra, and Fouad Fakhouri, the music director and conductor of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, conducts our orchestra and teaches some courses. He has conducted all over the world. Every time I sit in his class, I think how lucky I am to be learning from someone with such experience. I am also able to take private lessons from Bill Ayaerbe, who is the symphony’s concertmaster.

These opportunities are here for me and other students because we are in Fayetteville. Being in a city with a good mix of businesses is an advantage. Students have a lot of choices when it comes to internships and part-time jobs. I work at Cape Fear Animal Hospital. My boss lets me be involved in everything. I do X-rays and lab work, and fill prescriptions. I made the decision when I was four that I was going to be a veterinarian and go into private practice. However, this year, I took a microbiology class. I had such an excellent professor. Now I’ve decided I want to go on to graduate school and research viruses in the veterinary field.

I get great support from my professors on campus. I feel that same support from the city. Fayetteville and Methodist are big enough to provide me with opportunity and expose me to different kinds of people and experiences, but still small enough that I don’t get lost.