Cougar Scholars is a monthly series highlighting Chicago State student-athletes through the lens of their studies and professional pursuits. This month features men's soccer forward Dominick George. Read more from our previous scholar-athletes here:
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Dominick George evaluates the world around him, he sees clear paths to strengthening it.
A Chicago State biology major planning to specialize in neuroscience, George hopes to conduct life-changing research as a professional.
"I foresee doing research and being in the lab," George said. You would be very surprised at how much we don't know about common diseases that are common in older people. Alzheimer's comes to mind off the bat. It's becoming more prevalent, and to this point, there's no set treatment for it."
From his young days in Northwest Indiana, George has maintained a science-geared mind.
"Growing up, I was always interested in sciences," George said. "And I always had this interest in biological processes related to the brain, like what dreams are made of. I like finding the reasons why people think and do the things they do."
George came to Chicago State in the fall to further his scholarly pursuits and play on the school's inaugural Division I men's soccer team. Since then, his perspective on education has further molded.
"If you open up the door to enjoying the information, it feels like a privilege," George said. "Being at Chicago State has opened my mind to how much of a privilege education is. Chicago State is known for getting out in the surrounding community and making efforts to get under-represented groups to a college education."
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In his first year at Chicago State, George has particularly reveled in his organic chemistry classes.
"The professor was very put together and able to teach us effectively, especially given the circumstances," George said. "I was able to be successful with a professor who was invested."
But it was George's experiences with his zoology and botany classes that altered his perspective the most.
"There's so much we don't understand about other life forms," George said. "It gave me something to think about."
Throughout the Cougar Scholars series, we'll ask each scholar to identify something about their field that outsiders might not know.
"Even though we think of humans as the cream of the crop, there are other species that do things better," George said. "For example, there are marine sponges. If you cut one of their limbs off, they regenerate it.
"If you lose a finger, you would need to make it to the hospital to get stitched back on. It's interesting to see how we can study other life forms to gain some medical insight on how procedures can be derived from other animals."
