It is rather strange how invasive species have had an important role in leading me to Indiana University as a graduate student in organic chemistry. It all started out in a high school chemistry course where I was part of a group that presented on the effects of invasive species at the statewide Governor’s Invasive Species Conference. This conference and the high school chemistry class itself began a passion for chemistry that would lead me to become a chemistry major in college. During my undergraduate studies, I became interested in pursuing chemistry research and ended up interning at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center. Oddly enough, the synthetic chemistry project I worked on related to the development of a selective toxicant against the Asian Carp. Once again invasive species aided in my growing passion for chemistry. The research I completed with the carp toxicant motivated me to enter graduate school to receive an advanced degree to allow me become an even better chemist. I am currently working beginning my fourth year of graduate school as a Ph.D. working on carbohydrate synthesis in the N. Pohl laboratories (alas no invasive species are related to my current work!).