Extracurricular Activities
Wildlife photography, poetry writing, landscaping, backpacking, firefighting, and pollinator research.
A Little Bit About Me
I’m originally from Corvallis, Oregon, although I really like it here in Klamath Falls. I love doing anything in nature to the point of feeling like I can’t be inside for too long before I go crazy. I didn’t grow up in an outdoorsy household, yet I somehow still turned out this way. Some of my favorite activities outside include wildlife photography–which I’ve done for about five years–backpacking, fishing, and learning about everything I see in nature. I originally wanted to go to college for nuclear engineering and almost ended up joining the US Navy because of it, but I will never regret my decision to study environmental science. I think it more adequately suits my personality as someone who likes to spend time outdoors and tries to make a difference in my community.
Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major
I chose to study environmental science at Oregon Tech mainly because of what I had heard about the program here. I also thought the surrounding area looked like a fantastic area to explore for people like me who love to be outdoors. Needless to say, I was not disappointed in either direction.
My Influential Professors
My most influential professors have been Professor VanRooyen and Professor Farris. Professor VanRooyen is my research instructor for pollinator research and I’ve had several classes with her. She always finds a way to encourage broader thinking and skill progression, especially when it comes to opportunities for personal learning outside of class. The same goes for Professor Farris. Both in and out of class, Professor Farris has been extremely helpful to my studies. She encourages me to take my learning to a higher level and always answers my obscure questions about local ecosystems.
My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech
My greatest learning experience at Oregon Tech so far has been hiking behind the school with my best friend. As weird as it sounds, we almost learn more outside of class by simply observing natural systems and asking ecological questions. In doing so, I’ve learned about plant communities, pollinators, birds, soils, small mammals, and much more. If I had never come here, I would have never met her or had the preliminary education to uncover nature’s secrets as efficiently as I have this past year.
My Plans After Graduation
I plan to stay and work in the Klamath Basin for a while after graduating. There’s a lot of good environmental work to be done here and it’s only going to get even more important as the landscape continues to change. I hope to land a job doing some sort of environmental field work tied to research, preferably with USFWS or another similar agency. If I can’t get a job nearby, seasonal or permanent, I will likely do wildland firefighting until I can find what I’m looking for.