N icole Snyder has two passions—dance and chemistry. The Marietta-based incoming freshman started dancing at age four, and, through the years, she perfected her talent, performing as the Sugarplum Fairy in the Nutcracker and in competitive dance throughout Georgia. Snyder plans to major in chemistry and minor in dance at Georgia College.

“From my very first dance class, I knew I was right where I belonged,” she said. “When I’m on stage, it’s as if the world completely melts away, and it’s just the music, the lights and my troupe. There’s just the joy that comes with doing what I love, the emotion of the piece itself and the trust in myself and my training.”

Snyder competed in Fusion Regional competitions, Platinum Regionals and On-Point Regionals, as well as other competitions. Her team competed nationally every other year, and a few of her dances made it into the finals. 

Once at Georgia College, she will be in the Honors College and would also like to join the Chemistry Club, Community Dance program, a Christian organization and the Animal Rescue Foundation to help with pet adoptions. 

“I believe these organizations will push me outside of my comfort zone and force me to put myself out there,” said Snyder. “I tend to be a little shy when it comes to public situations, but I’m hoping these clubs will give me opportunities and lessons to help break that habit and become comfortable in public settings.”

She decided on attending Georgia College, because of some experiences she had at the university.

“The thing that first drew me to GC was how much they emphasized that students were names, not numbers,” Snyder said. “Some of my best classes in high school were the ones where the teacher was able to truly connect with the students individually, and I wanted to continue that as I moved into college."

"Then, in the spring of my junior year, I attended dance classes under Amelia Pelton and Natalie King. Watching how they connected with their students and had personal relationships with each one of them sealed the deal for me," she said. 

After Snyder graduates from Georgia College, she plans to pursue her Ph.D. 

“With the research I have done into chemistry-related jobs, it’s become very clear most jobs require at least a Ph.D. in order to climb up the ranks within the profession,” Snyder said. 

She would like to work in a research facility for chemistry, and in her later years, teach at either an AP class in high school or at the college level. 

“I’m actually not 100 percent certain which chemistry field I’d like to dive deeper into. I hope to figure that out while I’m at GC,” she said. 

“As for teaching, I tutored throughout high school and loved it,” Snyder said. “Explaining subjects in a different way and watching the understanding in my students’ eyes was incredibly satisfying. I truly cared for each student I worked with and found that tutoring came to me very easily, which made me think of teaching as an eventual career.”