What now?

I have dreamed of attending the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation for years; it is the reason I chose George Mason University for my undergraduate studies. It is the reason I was willing to go back to school during a pandemic. But as I sit here, with an elegant stinkhorn outside leaving me in fear of opening my window, I have to consider my goals now that I have made it here. I know that my future goals include working in stream restoration, environmental education, and environmental microbiology, but how can I make the most out of this semester?

The easiest thing to complete on this semesters to-do list: Visit the Shenandoah National Park.

As wild as it seems, I have never been to a National Park. Shenandoah is the closest national park to my hometown, a three and a half hour drive away. I can't wait to see the beauty of the park, but we'll see how it compares to the beauty of the the Archibald Johnston Conservation Area and the fun of killing the spotted lanternflies in the park.

At the Archibald Johnston Conservation Area

Of course, I'm also looking forward to the education part of this semester. I want to learn as many new field techniques as I can, as field work is one of my favorite parts of being an environmental science major.

In September of 2019, my class did a stream bioassessment using habitube bags. I had so much fun setting them up, but I carried much of the rebar we used to secure the bags. I had a look at my hands after, and it made me laugh. I wasn't sure I had ever seen my hands this dirty, and they definitely had never been so sore from holding on to something. My hope is that my hands look like this every chance I get this semester.

In terms of furthering my education, I have been able to confirm that I will be eligible to graduate in May. I plan to spend time doing critical thinking on my plans after graduation during this semester.

My biggest goal is to work on this blog. I firmly believe that successful conservation is a collaborative effort and that everyone making a small effort to live more sustainably is more impactful than a few people making a large effort. Rachel Carson, my conservation hero, understood the power in getting people outside of the science community to care. Her book, Silent Spring, constructed a narrative that expressed how dire the circumstances of DDT use. It inspired the environmental movement and is part of the reason that Earth Day was started. My hope for this blog is that it constructs a narrative equally as compelling that expresses my passion for the subject and inspires others.