As my four years are coming to an end it’s time to take a look back. There were a ton of ups and down. Times when it all seemed far too overwhelming. But I’m feeling the sweet sensation of not letting that feeling of overwhelm get the best of me. There was a lot of experiences and growth at this amazing school.
I learned that I have a true passion for all sciences. Coming into NEC you could have never told me that I would be leaving with a Environmental Studies degree, since I didn’t like dirt, bugs, being outside for too long, and things of that nature. But, this is exactly what this major is all about. From classes I realized that being outside is not all that bad, in fact it can actually be somewhat fun. I started off as a Biology major since my life long dream was to be a veterinarian, but after I took classes that sparked my love for the environment, I have a new dream and passion.
I am definitely not the person I was four years ago. NEC has shaped my work ethic and my mind frame. This did not only occur in the classroom but in jobs as well. For example, from being an RA I have a ton of confidence when approaching awkward situations. Also, it helped me with public speaking. Now I am much more confident speaking in front of crowds. Classes at NEC made me realize that no questions are dumb and if you need help, just ask. There is always room for error. Experiments and questions are how we separate facts from hypotheses.
While at NEC I experienced many things and some had larger impacts than others. One in particular was my “No Oceans, No Us” class. We took a few field trips to a beach in Maine and it was so beautiful. I had never seen a beach like this, so clean and the water was so clear. You could tell it was a thriving ecosystem. After that we ventured into Portland, where we visited a mussel farm where they grew mussels to sell. Honestly, seeing the advancement in science and helping the environment was so amazing.
Another experience was in a wetlands course. During an outdoor class day we visited a bog. By the end of the class I had fallen in but it was the most amazing fall of my life. Of course I was also scared since my teacher later told us that dead bodies had once been dumped in them, which led to the realization that they stops bodies from decomposing. I had no clue that a bog was a thing or even how important wetlands were to our everyday life. The knowledge that I gained about the ecosystem that affect my day to day activities is truly wonderful.
These two experiences combined formed my love for the environment and fueled the fire in my heart to want to save it.
Over the last few years I met people from all walks of life and they all have impacted me, but some in particular are among the science department. Elizabeth Harper is my advisor and one of my biggest supporters. She wants me to succeed at all costs. She believes in me even more than I believe in myself and is truly a wonderful person. Mark Mitch is one of my beloved teachers and he arms me with a ton of information about environmental issues and tons of jokes. Geoffrey Cook was one of my teachers as well and he was so passionate about the environment and influenced me to want to learn more. He made me love nature and want to learn and fight for change. Lori Koziol was my former advisor and she pushed me to pursue my curiosity about the Environmental Studies major and helped me transition into it.
Jackie Thompson, a friend and supervisor, recommended me to be a resident assistant and has been helping me on campus ever since. She allowed me to bounce ideas off her and gave me feedback on how I can truly make them happen. She is truly amazing and makes me feel like I’m really being listened to and appreciated.
And finally, William Homestead, one of the true hidden gems at NEC. A man that has helped me advance my writing skills and never lets me get away with certain things. He also made my New Orleans adventure more interesting and fun.
My future after graduation seems really important since I’m in the environmental field. I feel I have learned so much in the classes that I took, and I have no doubt in my mind that I can land whatever job that I want.
