As the fall semester at ULM draws to a close, senior toxicology major Alayna Pellegrin is preparing for one of her last milestones as a college student: graduation. As she looks back at her years spent at ULM, she is reminded of how her story began.
Born in Houma, Louisiana, on Nov. 21, 2003, Pellegrin grew up with her brother in a small home while her parents built their dream house. Despite her early years spent in Houma, she doesn’t remember much of the house on Hawthorn Street, as her family moved into their new home shortly after her birth.
Pellegrin’s high school years were anything but ordinary. She started at South Terrebonne High School in 2018, after spending the first 10 years of her education in private schools. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, her world changed.
In addition to frequent quarantines, Pellegrin’s senior year was marred by Hurricane Ida, devastating her home and community. Her school closed for two months after the storm. Eventually, students were split between two campuses, with South Terrebonne students attending in the afternoon and their counterparts from H.L. Bourgeois High School attending in the morning.
Despite these setbacks, Pellegrin graduated in 2021 with a 4.33 GPA and ranked 11th in her class. She describes her high school experience as “something,” but adds that it taught her resilience.
Pellegrin chose to attend ULM after hearing positive reviews about the university’s pharmacy program from her neighbors, both of whom graduated with Pharm.Ds. She started as a pre-pharmacy major but soon switched to toxicology after discovering her passion for forensic science.
“I’ve always been interested in true crime,” Pellegrin said. “But when I took forensic toxicology, I realized how much I loved the application of science to criminal matters, like analyzing evidence and solving real-world cases.”
She enrolled at ULM in the fall of 2022, after graduating from South Terrebonne. While initially uncertain about her career path, Pellegrin found a strong sense of purpose within her studies and extracurricular activities.
Pellegrin joined The Hawkeye, and therefore The Chacahoula, with the goal of stepping outside her comfort zone. Struggling with generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety, she initially found it difficult to communicate with others and attend events. But she pushed herself to engage.
“I was tired of living the life of a hermit,” Pellegrin said. “So I decided to challenge myself to go out and talk with other people and attend events. This led me to student publications.”
Joining The Chacahoula proved to be a transformative experience. Pellegrin gained confidence in her social interactions and developed strong bonds with peers.
“Since joining, I have definitely come out of my shell,” she said. “I find it easier to talk to others and make good connections.”
One of the most important relationships she developed during this time was with senior English and Spanish dual major Zoe Sissac, a previous editor-in-chief of The Hawkeye. The two became close friends after joining the publication together and supporting one another through various events and projects.
“People always say do not work with your best friends,” Sissac said, “but I have found working with Alayna to be one of the best parts of my time at The Hawkeye. As she grew to Chacahoula editor-in-chief, she continued to push herself and others to be the best through her drive and work ethic. I have never known anyone who works as hard and tirelessly as her. She has left an impact on the yearbook that will be here long after she has graduated.”
Pellegrin’s decision to take on the role of editor-in-chief of The Chacahoula was driven by a desire to contribute to something meaningful. To her, a yearbook is more than just a collection of photos and memories: it is a historical record.
“A yearbook captures the people, the events, and the emotions of a particular time,” Pellegrin said. “Years from now, we will look back and reminisce about our classmates, school events and what was going on in our lives.”
Being editor-in-chief allowed Pellegrin to make a lasting impact on the ULM community. She led a team of students, ensuring publications reflected the diversity and spirit of campus life. “Nothing makes me happier than knowing I’ve had some part in brightening someone’s life,” she said.
Though the role was demanding, Pellegrin found immense fulfillment in leading the publication.
“I’ve learned how to navigate different roles, collaborate with my peers, and find my voice in conversations that matter,” she said.
Pellegrin’s academic journey has also been a source of personal growth. Her favorite course at ULM was forensic toxicology, which helped solidify her interest in forensic science.
“It combines complex science with real-world applications, such as solving crimes and understanding medical cases,” she said.
Pellegrin found enjoyment in classes such as Clinical Toxicology, where she studied the medical side of toxicology, including how to treat adverse drug reactions.
As she approaches graduation, Pellegrin is preparing to apply to graduate schools to continue her studies in forensic toxicology. She has applied to five programs, with Central Florida University and Florida State University as her top choices.
After earning her graduate degree, Pellegrin plans to work in a forensic or toxicology-related field before pursuing a high-level administrative position within a forensic agency or lab. Eventually, she aspires to teach forensic science at the university level.
“In 10 years, I see myself in at least one of these positions,” she said.
Pellegrin’s college experience has taught her valuable life lessons about navigating the complexities of adulthood. She credits ULM with helping her discover her true passion in life and pushing her to grow both personally and professionally.
In her own words, Pellegrin says that the best part of college has been “making a difference and feeling driven to succeed because my contributions have had a positive impact on others or a larger cause.”
Though she’s moving on to the next chapter, Pellegrin’s influence will continue to be felt by those who have worked with her, learned from her and been inspired by her dedication to making the world a better place.
The Hawkeye wishes Alayna the best of luck as she embarks on her next adventure and looks forward to seeing the impact she will continue to have in the world of forensic science.
