Anyone who attends CAHS has probably noticed someone walking through the halls in a lab coat. His name is Peter McLeod.

Many people can identify McLeod because of his lab coat and love for science. Not everyone takes the time to learn about who he is.

McLeod, a senior, first joined The Classical Academies in first grade. Since then he has developed a love for science that still holds strong today.

“I’ve been interested in astrophysics since second grade,” McLeod said. “I read a whole bunch of astrophysics books … [and] was inspired by a video on string theory.”

McLeod’s love for science runs in his family, as his father works as a chemistry teacher at Escondido High School. “My grandfather is a microbiologist,” McLeod said. “If you’ve ever had Easy Cheese, he discovered a type of bacteria that is used to make sure that fungus doesn’t start growing in it!”

McLeod began wearing his first lab coat near the beginning of his sophomore year. He bought a second lab coat for his senior year.

“I found it in the dress drawer in my sister’s room,” McLeod said. “I have been wanting to wear a lab coat before [sophomore year], and I just didn’t know I had one … Apparently it’s my mom’s old lab coat from college.”

McLeod wears his lab coat at school, on the dance floor, and even at home when he hangs out with his family.

McLeod describes his life at home as very hectic; his five younger siblings fill up his house. “There’s Kate, Megan, Melissa, Amy; that’s four girls, and one [other] boy named Sean.”

No longer a minority in a sorority, 18-year-old McLeod met his first brother when his mother gave birth to him last year. Now he does not feel swamped in a sea of girls.

When you see him in the halls, feel free to say hi, because he wants everyone to know that, “Lab coats rock!”

EDIT: It was incorrectly stated that McLeod’s father was a physics teacher. Mr. McLeod is actually a chemistry teacher.