Alexandria Calloway '26: Mentorship, Growth and Independence

Alexandria Calloway is a senior majoring in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry. In addition to serving as a Trinity Ambassador, she is a member of the Baldwin Scholars program, the Huang Fellows Program and the Iota Mu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Calloway is interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, and in her free time she enjoys playing tennis, cooking, spending time with family and relaxing near the water. 

As commencement draws near, we asked Calloway to reflect on her time at Duke, the experiences that shaped her, and the lessons she hopes to carry forward after graduation. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and length. 

Is there a part of yourself that you discovered or reclaimed during your time at Duke? 

Duke gave me the gift of enjoying my own company. I arrived as a first-year closely tied to home and often looking to others for reassurance in small decisions. Over time, I grew into someone who is comfortable being on my own. 

That shift wasn’t about distancing myself from others but about discovering a sense of steadiness within myself. I still seek advice when I need it, but now it comes from intention rather than anxiety. I’ve learned to take walks, spend time outside and sit with my own thoughts before letting the noise of the world rush in. 

Looking back over the past four years, is there a small moment that ended up shaping your path? 

During my sophomore year, I started questioning whether I should continue as a chemistry major. The upper-level courses felt intimidating, and I wasn’t sure if I belonged on that path. 

After exchanging emails with Dr. Charlie Cox, he invited me to his office and mapped out the next several semesters of coursework with me. On paper it was a simple exercise, but the conversation changed how I saw myself. He reassured me that I was capable of succeeding in the major. That moment didn’t just clarify my schedule; it strengthened my confidence. 

What advice would you give to your first-year self — or to an incoming first-year at Duke? 

Talk to your professors. Not just about exams or assignments, but about their work and how they found their path. Many of the people who shaped my time at Duke started as instructors and became mentors. 

Those conversations often open doors you didn’t know existed. And don’t wait until you feel completely ready to put yourself out there. You probably won’t feel ready, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying. 

As you prepare to graduate, what are you most grateful for from your time at Duke? 

I’m most grateful for the people I met here. The friendships and mentor relationships I built at Duke supported me in ways I didn’t always expect. 

As I move into the next chapter, I hope to carry that spirit forward by nurturing those relationships and offering the same support to others that so many people offered to me.