Mitch Filka: Turning Passion into Chemistry
Growing up in Parma, Mitch Filka didn’t always know he would become a chemist. But a single high school class would change the trajectory of his life and set him on a path toward scientific discovery.
The Spark of Scientific Curiosity
As a student at Normandy High School in Parma, Mitch Filka was generally a strong student, graduating magna cum laude. However, it was his biotech career class that truly ignited his passion for science and put him on his path to becoming a research and development chemist at Horizons Incorporated.
Under the guidance of his teacher, Mr. Kroth, Mitch discovered a love for hands-on scientific exploration.
“You could really tell that he cared a lot about the subject matter and was really well versed in a lot of different things,” Mitch recalls of his influential teacher. “He definitely went the extra mile to set up really cool and engaging laboratory experiments for us to do.”
The class wasn’t just about textbooks and lectures. Mr. Kroth created immersive experiences that made science come alive. In one memorable project, the class simulated how a disease might spread through a population, tracing its path from patient zero. In another experiment, students even hatched live chicks that they had dyed different colors while still in their eggs.
“I was always excited to go to that class,” Mitch says. “I guess I had always kind of had an affinity for science, especially like biology and chemistry, but having attended that class and really wanting to give my all and really participate in all the stuff he had for us, I think it really kind of kick-started me into saying, ‘Oh, I think I could see myself doing this long-term.'”
Finding His Path
With a newfound direction, Mitch initially enrolled at Tiffin University to study forensic science. Along with his studies, he continued his athletic pursuits, joining the university’s diving team after competing in both soccer and diving during high school.
However, as he progressed through his coursework, Mitch realized something important: “The more law classes I took, the more boring it got. And I just wanted to be in the lab.” This realization prompted him to transfer schools and refocus his studies on “the hard STEM thing.”
In 2017, Mitch graduated from Kent State University with a degree in biotechnology, solidifying his commitment to a scientific career.
Professional Success
Today, at 29, Mitch is approaching his two-year anniversary as a research and development chemist at Horizons Inc. His day-to-day responsibilities include designing and conducting experiments, working to improve various chemical formulas, finding cost-saving measures, and handling quality control processes.
Family Influences
Science and healthcare have always been part of Mitch’s family fabric. Several of his relatives work as nurses, including his father who had been in the nursing field. His mother has worked in dentistry, handling responsibilities like fillings and X-rays. Meanwhile, his sister is completing her studies at Ohio State University’s pharmacy school.
This family background in healthcare fields provided Mitch with an environment that valued and supported scientific pursuits.
Mitch realizes that not all students have those same influences and that many have no experience with what STEM careers are or could be.
Advice for Students
For today’s students, especially those who might not have access to inspirational teachers like Mr. Kroth or family members in STEM fields, Mitch offers thoughtful advice:
“Living in our technological age, it’s not always necessary to have a physical person there to really start exploring those fields,” he explains. “Through my time in high school and definitely in college, I’ve gotten so much extra education from STEM YouTubers, forums where people post and ask questions, expert resources that you can talk with, or online tutoring.”
He emphasizes that technology has created unprecedented access to knowledge: “There’s so much out there that you can just get at the push of a button these days.”
But perhaps his most important advice addresses the intimidation factor many students feel when considering STEM careers:
“In the STEM field, it can really feel like you have a lot on your shoulders. You need to know a lot of things. You need to be an expert, a professional… It’s very easy to get kind of an inflated picture of it in your head and kind of this perfect scientist that knows everything and can really do what you need to do to make headway on your own.”
Mitch challenges this misconception: “The most successful students from what I’ve seen in my experience have been the ones that know when and where to ask for help, to use their resources, whether that be meeting with professors for office hours or using online resources or a tutoring program.”
He concludes with an insight that applies not just to students but to all scientists: “Nobody in STEM is an island. It’s such a collaborative effort that everybody really relies on each other, and it’s okay to use that to your advantage.”
Through his story, Mitch Filka demonstrates that the path to a successful STEM career is built not just on individual talent, but on curiosity, collaboration, and the willingness to ask for help when needed.