Vivian Light, Class of ’25: Senior balances biology and volleyball at Oregon State

Originally from California, Light picked Oregon State for its beautiful campus, the opportunity to play collegiate volleyball and the strong science departments. One of seven kids, her family is full of scientists and athletes, making her career path an easy choice.

“I grew up in a house where we asked scientific questions and we were always outdoors doing something,” she said. “My mom is a veterinarian and my dad is a geologist.”

She enrolled as a biology major with the marine biology option, but decided to alter her focus to allow for a broader career path after talking to her advisor. The ecology option allowed her to expand her focus from coastal ecosystems to freshwater.

That advisor, Eric Cole, became one of her most valued mentors.

“Eric is amazing. Every term, I look forward to meeting with him. He remembers what we talked about last time and makes me feel more than just a number. Sometimes we don’t even talk about academics — it’s more about where my life is headed. That helps a lot,” she said.

Balancing biology coursework and Division I volleyball hasn’t been easy. The team practices year-round, with fall competitions and spring training sessions that include two-hour daily practices and regular weight room work.

But for Light, the challenge is part of the reward.

“It can be hard, but if I am truly doing it, biology is not supposed to be easy. Studying something hard and doing other hard things with it, is an honor. I get to be that person on my team and set an academic standard,” she said.

She’s also found support from fellow student-athletes pursuing rigorous academic paths. “There are other student athletes studying biology. It helps to make friends with them just to know that I’m not in it alone.”

In both science and sports, she sees a common thread: dedication.

“It takes a lot of dedication and effort to do both. Biology is a hard thing to study but it opens so many doors for you to further your life and keep going. So does volleyball, it can be hard and you have to go through the ups and downs of it. But it also opens up doors for you and teaches you how to work together as a team,” she said.

One of her favorite volleyball memories came during a dramatic five-set win at Washington State — a particularly meaningful victory following the dissolution of the Pac-12 Conference. “Whenever we play each other it’s a big deal and we won. It felt really good.”

After a successful athletic career, she plans to pursue a job in freshwater fish conservation. She’s not sure exactly what it will look like yet, but she’s confident that her curiosity and determination, along with her lifelong love of the ocean, will guide her forward.

“I think the ocean has always interested me, and I like being able to analyze things. In seventh grade I remember dissecting a frog and thinking it was so cool,” she said.

Fish in particular aren’t just fascinating, they are vital indicators of environmental health. Fish are often referred to as indicator species because they are sensitive to pollutants, part of complex food webs and reflect changes in water quality and habitat conditions.

“They are a huge tell to how our world’s doing,” Light said.

As she prepares to graduate, one of the things she’s most excited about is having her large family join her in Corvallis to celebrate.

“There’s nine of us. They visited when I was a freshman, but I was still figuring myself out. Having them all up here is a proud moment,” she said.

Whether in the lab or on the court, Vivian Light has made the most of her time at Oregon State. Her story is one of curiosity, commitment, and quiet leadership — a reminder that success isn’t about choosing between passions, but pursuing what makes your heart full.