From Chemistry Class to Catalyst Crew
Calia Godtland
Every origin story has its own arc, its own moment where chance meets commitment and dreams solidify into something real. For Catalyst, our arc began in a three hundred person chemistry classroom at UCLA, wide eyed and new to chemistry. Like many friendships at UCLA, my friendship with Misty and Shimi formed out of our shared academic trials and tribulations. From learning about molecular orbital theory to catalysis (which we became especially fond of), we found ourselves sharing countless evenings problem-solving in chemistry, which eventually translated to an innate sense of collaboration. Over time, we began speaking frankly about our experiences in science, leadership, and in the workforce. We wished there was a space where we could learn how our majors could lead to fulfilling careers, and decided to start an organization with this mission.
Once we conceptualized Catalyst, we hatched our plan and recruited our team. We reached out to friends who had expressed interest in founding an organization and carefully thought about where each person’s strengths would fit best. We emailed our favorite Chemistry professor, Dr. Martin Riu, and he agreed to become our signatory. Editorial minds, designers, developers, and leaders began to assemble as we established the foundation behind Catalyst. By the time the academic year began, we had a plan to bring Catalyst to UCLA, and a shared steadfast determination to go along with it.
Next came recruitment: we hung posters, canvassed classrooms, and explained Catalyst’s mission to anyone who would listen. The response was overwhelming in the best way possible. Applications poured in and our founding team quickly shifted into interview mode, extending invitations to a vast pool of candidates. The following week, our team juggled attending classes, working our various jobs, and studying for week 3 “midterms” on top of the interviews we conducted. We met as a board, debated passionately, and carefully considered who should be admitted and in what role. By the time decisions were made, we had done it: we had built the first Catalyst cohort.
The rest of the quarter was a blur of creativity and collaboration: article brainstorming sessions, web development training, editor coordination, and late night executive meetings ensued, fueled by ambition and caffeine. What started as a study session conversation had grown into something real. Interest poured in not just from UCLA, but from other campuses eager to start their own branches of Catalyst.
Catalyst exists to spark ideas, amplify voices, create community, and give YOU a sense that you’re working towards something: the future for STEM majors is bright, exciting, and most importantly, unlimited! This is only the beginning. Thank you to everybody reading this article, and make sure to check out everything else in our Winter 2026 edition! Let’s catalyze something incredible, together!
