By DEBORAH CORRAO / L’Observateur / January 18, 1999

LULING – Some of us are never really sure we’re on the right path in life.

But 20-year-old Brooke Fahrig of Luling decided on a career choice when she was only 8.

“My mom’s aunt died of leukemia,” she said. “That’s when I decided Iwanted to be an oncologist.”Now in her third year at Louisiana State University, Fahrig, a microbiology/premed major, has started the first chapter of the American Cancer Society on a college campus in the nation.

“I wanted to get involved in the American Cancer Society and realized there was no organization on the LSU campus,” Fahrig said. “When I calledthe national organization I found out there is no chapter on any other campus in the country.”Fahrig is now serving as president of the fledgling organization known as the Student Affiliation of the American Cancer Society at LSU, which is now more than 70 members strong. If it’s successful, she said, it mayserve as a model for future campus chapters.

The purpose of the organization is to educate and make students aware of the disease and to provide volunteer services to cancer patients. Duringthe fall semester the LSU chapter held a Breast Cancer Awareness Week campaign when students signed and wore pink ribbons.

In the spring student volunteers have agreed to entertain young chemotherapy patients one day a week at a Baton Rouge children’s clinic.

Fahrig, who is maintaining a 3.9 GPA and a full academic scholarship toLSU, also volunteers in the oncology department at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge while working 15 hours a week.

She also did a stint in the Burn Unit of Baton Rouge General Hospital.

Although she hasn’t veered from her choice to specialize in oncology, Fahrig said she’s trying to stay open-minded and would like to get experience in other areas of medicine before making a final decision.

She applied for and has been selected to participate in a new program at Our Lady of the Lake where students will shadow doctors in a variety of medical fields once a week in 3-4 week rotations.

Next semester Fahrig will work for her faculty advisor, Dr. John Battista,doing genetic research on a bacteria that is highly resistant to radiation therapy.

Fahrig is the daughter of Jon and Shirlyn Fahrig of Luling and has a younger sister Kali, 14, and a brother, Cameron, who is 4.

Fahrig graduated second in the Hahnville High School Class of 1995.

She belongs to a host of academic organizations, including Alpha Epsilon Delta, a premedical national honor society, the Foureaux Society for students who maintain a 4.0 GPA during their first year in college, BetaBeta Beta, a national biological honor society and the Student Christian Medical Association.

Fahrig plans on getting her undergraduate degree in May 2000 and enter medical school immediately following graduation. She is in the process ofstudying for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test).

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