Alyssa Wall
Alyssa Wall
Class Year
’16
Current home
Kenosha, Wis.
Major(s)
Chemistry and Japanese
Current Position
Chief Chemist at Racine Industries, Inc.
Alyssa Wall ’16 works as a Chief Chemist for Racine Industries, Inc., an international company that manufactures and distributes carpet cleaning systems. She manages the company’s laboratory and performs quality control and competitor product testing.
While at Carthage, Ms. Wall took advantage of the diverse activities and areas of study the College provides for all of its students. She studied in two different majors, Japanese and chemistry, was a member of the Carthage Treble Choir, studied abroad, and attended multiple Fine Arts events. The pursuit of her interests paid off as she earned two Faculty Honors Scholarships and a Bridging Scholarship. She also won first place in Advanced Speech in the 2014 Carthage Japanese Speech and Performance Contest, and second place in Advanced Speech in Chicago’s 28th Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest.
How did Carthage prepare you?
“The practical laboratory instruction I received from Carthage is top-notch. My employers have been impressed by my safety habits, proper documentation skills, and experiment design skills. The small classroom settings also allowed me to regularly practice clear, concise communication. Studying abroad for my Japanese major taught me a multitude of soft skills pertaining to reaching common ground with diverse groups of people. These opportunities influenced my skills and character, allowing me to be a more professional and valuable employee.”
How has your liberal arts education benefitted you?
“I had the privilege of working as a ballroom dance instructor for Fred Astaire Dance Studios for a time after a lab contract ended. When giving introductory lessons, I needed to draw from the multitude of skills I gained from my liberal arts experience. I knew it would take a blend of emotional intelligence, active listening, communication techniques, and trial-and-error with different learning styles to help the dance couples get on the same page.”
What's your favorite Carthage memory?
“My favorite memory is participating in the Christmas Festival all four years as a member of the Carthage Treble Choir. Everyone always felt the excitement in the air for the massively successful annual event.
“I also remember spontaneously attending the J-Term Opera Workshop performance. My boyfriend and I were walking along Campus Drive and noticed singing coming from A. F. Siebert Chapel. We followed the singing and enjoyed an amazing show! Going to random events happened all the time. I think Carthage played a major role in helping me say ‘yes’ to spontaneous opportunities.”
Tips for current Carthage students?
“Take advantage of all the opportunities at Carthage in addition to earning your degree(s) because once you graduate, it’s not as easy to try new things! Try a class or club that makes you nervous. Attend some of the endless free or inexpensive events to broaden your horizons. Study abroad if you can, even if it’s just for one J-Term. Sign up for off-campus activities. If you see something you want to change, act on it. If you live in the dorms, make some commuter buddies so that everyone is connected. And finally, talk to your professors often because they are 100 percent committed to your success and well-being.”