When appendicitis strikes, most people focus on getting emergency treatment and healing as quickly as possible. But when Devin Chiaramonti’s body sent him to the hospital during his first year of college, he mapped out his future life goals.

“I thought the whole medical experience was so cool that I decided to switch majors to biological sciences,” says Chiaramonti of Lombard, Illinois, a senior in biological sciences and pre-medicine student at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

To get experience in the medical field, Chiaramonti spent summers as an EMT first responder in Chicago. He is now a licensed EMT in Missouri and Illinois.

To get even more field work, Chiaramonti traveled to Ecuador with a group of S&T students led by Dr. Robin Verble, professor of biological sciences.

“It was my first time traveling out of the country as an adult, and it was a real learning experience,” he says. “We spent a week in the Amazon researching ant species, hiking every day and learning. It was terrifying at night, though. Spiders the size of your hand were moving on the trees.”

Chiaramonti is also pursuing a double minor — explosives engineering and chemistry. He says the chemistry minor will help him meet his goal of becoming a doctor, and the explosives minor is just for fun.

“Where else can you find this kind of program?” he says. “People love when I say that I blow stuff up for college credit.”

When he isn’t studying for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Chiaramonti stays busy as a member of the S&T Student Union Board. He also served as a resident assistant in the dormitories on campus.

“I always tell new students to say yes to new opportunities,” he says. “But know how to step back when you need to – if you love it, you will find a way to make it work. Work to build a foundation of support and study together with your friends when you can.”

Chiaramonti says that one of his favorite things about attending Missouri S&T is all the people you can meet when you’re active on campus.

“Meeting all the people here on campus is what gives this place its own feel,” says Chiaramonti. “And my fellow students are why I am still here – I wanted to be with the winners.”