Almost done with undergrad at this point, but I feel like I'm finally understanding where my passions lie as well as where I want to be and what I want to be doing in the future. It might change as I continue to grow, like many things do, but it's nice to feel like I have some sort of direction. I went to Iceland this year as part of my travel writing class. It was an amazing experience in a breathtaking country. It opened me up more to writing, both personally and professionally, and led to me taking a science and nature writing course in the spring. I would like to continue to work on my journalistic and scientific writing skills for use now and in the future because I think science education and transparency is an extremely important part of developing a science-literate society and culture. Learning about the ways Iceland is paving the way in carbon sequestration techniques was encouraging⁠—it reiterated in my mind the notion that climate change and environmental degradation is something we can and are actively working against. I know this logically, but it is such a big issue with so many facets. It is a problem that will take entire countries working in tandem to change current unsustainable practices and it’s reassuring when you get to see that change with your own eyes and know that sustainability isn’t some unrealistic dream, but a goal to actively strive for. 

 

Other classes and experiences have also renewed my hope and passion for environmental issues. This year has given me more confidence in my choice to pursue a career in the field of wildlife biology. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but it never really felt attainable. After talking to more people and doing more research, I’m genuinely excited about future possibilities in the field and have been looking into graduate schools in the states and abroad. It turns out that there are a ton of cool programs with international research opportunities that could help me build a career that I enjoy and that makes the world a little bit better. At this point in time, I think I would ideally be doing field work that involves locations outside of the U.S. as often as possible and writing for different publications on the side. I’d also like to develop my coding and computer skills. I want to get better with R, for research purposes, but I’d also like to eventually figure out the skills needed to code apps and websites. I think it would be really valuable to have those skills because I have ideas for apps to improve sustainability in daily life and because it just seems like a cool thing to be able to do. 

 

This year has also been a time for growth in regard to social issues and how I dedicate time and energy to them. For a long time I was not confident enough in myself and my communication skills to really address the issues I was learning about and suggest ways to improve complex issues. I think that college has really helped me to build that confidence through education, exposure to many different people, and productive in-class discussions. Issues pertaining to the environment are often closely tied to human rights issues and I think that has also helped expose me to many different social and political topics. I still have so much room for growth, and I don’t think anyone should stop trying to grow, however I am now more capable of addressing complex social issues with different people and encouraging reflection and positive action. It has been really heartening and empowering to support people my age advocating for change in the local community and to stand alongside other people, young and old, as we advocate for a more just America. This generation is full of passionate, strong, and hard-working individuals fighting for a better world for themselves, for others, and for future generations and I am proud to be a small part of it.