FOSSI: Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am Taylor Quarles, I live with my mom and little brother in Richmond, Texas. I graduated from George Ranch High School and plan to continue my education at Howard University. I will be majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in architecture. My hobbies consist of playing basketball, drawing, watching Netflix, and reading interesting articles. I enjoy listening to all genres of music. Some of my strengths are math, science, problem-solving, and communication skills.
FOSSI: Why are you passionate about pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field?
Since I was in elementary school, I excelled in math and science courses. I enjoyed solving puzzles and playing number games, which built the foundation for my problem-solving skills. I soon started to compete in science competitions with other classmates, which taught me to work in team environment. I carried these skills over into high school where I started to plan my future career.
I conducted research and asked counselors for advice on what career would be my best fit. I decided to explore the field of engineering. From then on, I took the engineering pathway and gained a love for the subject. The ability to use math and science to solve real world problems fascinated me, along with the unlimited ways to solve them. In addition, I grew up with a father and an uncle who worked as engineers in corporate America.
FOSSI: Who is a role model that has influenced your educational choices?
I was influenced to pursue a career in Chemical Engineering by two individuals: my uncle, Cory Quarles, and a life long mentor, Faye Gerard. My uncle works for Exxon Mobil and has been an engineer for the past twenty years. I did a project on his career in my junior year of high school and got to know the ins and outs of his career. From then on, I was hooked and decided to go down that path. Secondly, Faye Gerard works for BP Energy. She has helped me in many ways, but the most important was swaying me to take interest in chemical engineering. Once I was interested, she helped me earn scholarships, such as this one, to finance my education. I couldn't be more thankful for these two.
FOSSI: Fast forward – where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself working for top chemical engineering companies such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP Energy, or DuPont. I will be just starting my career at one of these companies after graduating from college and gaining my bachelor's degree. I also plan on earning a Master's in Business Administration.
FOSSI: Share a few fun facts about yourself.
- I love to draw and I prefer to shade rather than color.
- My favorite music, in order, is R&B, Hip/Hop, Gospel, Pop, and Country.
- I played varsity basketball for one year.