Destination Success | Dr. Calla Telzrow | Watch HPU

Chapters & Transcript

0:00

Hi, my name is Dr. Calla Telzrow. I'm originally from Cleveland, Ohio.

I graduated from HPU in 2016 with a BS in biology and subsequently went to Duke University to get my PhD in molecular genetics and microbiology.

I'm currently now working in clinical research.

0:31

I became really attracted to High Point University because of the small class sizes. I knew that I was going to be able to not only build relationships with my classmates but also really get to know my professors.

I knew that if I had questions or if I wanted to, uh, you know, dig a little deeper in anything, that they were going to be available for me to do that.

0:48

While I was a student here, I was also really engaged in activities outside of the classroom. I was able to participate in club and intermural basketball, and I was also a member of the service fraternity on campus, Alpha Phi Omega.

These experiences not only do they give me a really great outlet, um, but they really helped me build a great network of friends and colleagues during my time at HPU.

1:10

When I started my journey at HPU, I knew that I wanted to get engaged in science, and so that's why I became a biology major. But I didn't know what I wanted to do after that.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate in the first summer research program for undergraduates here at HPU, and I work with Dr. Wommack. That experience is really what got me interested in graduate school and propelled me into that step.

1:35

My most influential mentor here at HPU was Dr. Wommack. I got to know him through class and actually made a connection with him outside. He was able to get me excited about being involved in research.

Because of that, I was able to work with him in the summer and learn a little bit about organic chemistry and organic synthesis, which is what led me to eventually go to graduate school.

1:58

When I was applying to graduate school, I did use HPU Career Services. They even did a bunch of mock interviews for me, both in person and on the computer, so that I was ready for either scenario.

2:10

I think the most important skill that I learned about, I was here at HPU, that helped me in graduate school were my critical thinking skills. A lot of the scientific classes that I took here require you to think critically, um, in order to understand a concept or to answer a problem.

The confidence that I was able to build in myself and in my abilities really came from engaging in research here and realizing that I could do science with my own two hands.

2:35

To me, when I hear HPU's Mantra choose to be extraordinary, that means to find meaning in every day. Not every day is perfect, not every day sometimes is even good, but if we can get up and do our best every day and find some, uh, good out of it, to me, that's extraordinary.

Dr. Calla Telzrow shares how High Point University shaped her path from biology undergrad to Ph.D. student in molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke University. She credits HPU's small class sizes, undergraduate research opportunities, and mentors like Dr. Wommack with building her confidence and critical thinking skills. Her journey demonstrates how the university's motto "Choose to be Extraordinary" translates into finding meaning and excellence in daily work, from the classroom to her current role in clinical research.

Destination Success | Dr. Calla Telzrow

Destination Success | Dr. Calla Telzrow

How do High Point University graduates achieve success?

What are the benefits of small class sizes at HPU?

What extracurricular activities are available at HPU?

How to participate in undergraduate research at HPU?

How do High Point University professors mentor students?

How does HPU Career Services help students?

How does HPU build critical thinking skills?

What does Choose to be Extraordinary mean at HPU?