“What is physics?” That’s the question I asked myself four years ago in my junior year of high school. In those days, anything remotely related to physics seemed to be the “Uh-Oh” zone of my academic career. Yet, that is the year that I first embarked on my now ongoing pursuit in becoming one of the top modern physicist of the new millennium. It was a basic high school physics course that first sparked my interest in the area. I had taken all of the previous advanced sciences so physics was the last science to conquer. Horror stories were plentiful along with battle scars (grades on transcripts.) I, on the other hand, was determined to be the first to emerge unscathed from the class with battle praises to accompany an excellent grade. Although, by the end of the year I had proven only to be another casualty, my love for physics was well on its way.
My name is Linwood Creekmore, III and I am a junior physics major at Elizabeth City State University in the “Harbor of Hospitality” and my hometown, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The school motto of Elizabeth City State University is “Preparing Leaders for the next Millennium,” and in the case of my academic career thus far, this has proven to be true. While a student of ECSU, I have gained and continue to gain, the academic and social skills needed in order to be successful in any and every human endeavor.
In preparing for my successful future, I have been privileged to participate in five research experiences in addition to the normal classroom curriculum. I am a firm believer in the old saying, “It’s never to early to start preparing for your future.” In hopes of being more prepared, I started internships in my high school years.
My first internship experience was with the Math and Science Regional Center Program (MSRC) at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. This was a 10-week program for advanced students in Mathematics and Science who intended to pursue and undergraduate degree in those related fields. Next was Health Career Opportunities Program at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. I participated two consecutive years in this program, which had an emphasis on getting minorities involved in sciences and mathematics in order to pursue careers in the health field.
Following the completion of my freshman year at ECSU, I noticed a need for the development of both my social and research skills. So often social skills play an important role in assisting research projects. To improve my imperfection, my next research experience was at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. While stationed here, I was required to learn and research the story of the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, and provide open lectures to crowds of 1 to 300 visitors.
My most previous research experience was at Hampton University following the completion of my sophomore year at ECSU. Undergraduate Institute in Physics-Research Experiences for Undergraduates (UniPhy-REU) is by far the most enjoyable and educational of all the previous experiences. In fact, my experience was so influential that I have gained exposure to the area of physics, which I would like to pursue in graduate school.
My research during the summer of 2002 was titled CdSe Semiconductor Nanomaterial Synthesis And Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy For Optical Power Limiting Applications, and I was privileged enough to present my results at the 2002 SOARS Conference in Durham, North Carolina on November 8, 2002.
As far as training, I have received training in the following:
Windows ‘95, ‘98, and ‘00, Databases, Spreadsheets, Disc Creation, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works, Word Processing, Corel Draw 8, Adobe Photoshop, Web Design, Basic C++, Basic UNIX, HTML, and JAVA.
Additionally, I have served as a mentor in the Boys II Men mentoring program, current Corresponding Secretary for the Student Government Association at Elizabeth City State University, and also as a tutor for Elizabeth City State University Tutorial services.
After receiving my degree from ECSU, I plan to attend graduate school for Nonlinear Optical Power Limiting Applications and Experimentation. Afterwards, I plan to receive my Doctorate in Optical and Material Sciences and continue experimentation in Nonlinear Optical Physics. Ultimately, I would like to oversee a research project, which will create and make practical the use and commercial implementation of Optical Power Limiters.
My future is one that is bright and filed with a lot of strife and struggle as well as reward. I understand fully that I hold my future in my hands, and that realization empowers me to take charge and hold steadfastly to my goals.