Written By Lexi Troyer

Haley Marcum, from Wooster , Ohio, completed her first two years of college at Ohio State ATI this past May and is now transitioning to the Columbus campus this fall to continue taking classes towards her bachelor’s degree in forestry, fisheries, and wildlife. She is spending her summer interning at the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station in Delaware, Ohio, where she focuses on breeding trees that are resistant to invasive insects or diseases. An internship was not required before her transition to the Columbus campus, but it was a good opportunity that came her way and one that she could not pass up.

Haley credits Ohio State ATI in preparing her for the transition to Columbus and giving her a solid educational foundation before beginning her internship. She says, “ATI gave me knowledge, especially in plant identification and the impact that the soil has on the things around it. I also got a lot of networking opportunities while at ATI, like working in the entomology lab as a research assistant doing invasive studies.”

Haley also commends the faculty at ATI for not only connecting her with her major and internship but supporting her as well. She remarks, “The Second-Year Transformational Experience Program at ATI funded my internship by covering the cost of living, including groceries and the clothes/gear needed for my internship to work outside.”

Haley is also grateful to Ohio State ATI for providing her with valuable field experience and helping her secure an outdoor job while she was at ATI, as she arrived without any prior field experience. She says, “ATI gave me experience, especially like working in the entomology lab. My skill set was improved by class material, talking to faculty, and working outdoors.”

Written By Brayden Hayes 

You’ll find there are many different or new experiences when you come to college. Getting involved in campus life socially is one of the best ways to help ease the uncertainties. As a freshman here at ATI, I have heard one piece of advice time and time again: “Just say yes to as many college opportunities as you can possibly do.” I have taken this simple piece of advice to heart. Getting involved in Hoof-n-Hide and the Agricultural Systems Management Club and becoming an Ohio State ATI Student Ambassador has opened many new doors to me.  

Joining different college clubs and organizations is an excellent way of getting involved. The wide variety of clubs offered to students here at ATI is truly amazing. Everyone on campus can find their niche in a club. That said, ATI also allows students to make their own clubs if there is enough interest. The wide variety of clubs or organizations allows for all students to get involved.  

Joining clubs at ATI is what helped me make so many friends and get involved on the campus. If I could give one piece of advice to a future college kid, it would be to get involved and make some friends.  Joining the Agricultural Systems Management Club, or ASM, has been the best thing for me thus far in my college career. Meeting once every other week for ASM has allowed me to meet so many new lifelong friends. In the ASM club, there is a new guest speaker during almost every meeting. Most of these speakers are agricultural related in some way, and the amount of knowledge I have obtained from these speakers is astronomical.  

Having a job on campus is a great way to make extra money, create a network, and get many new opportunities. All people have different interests and enjoy doing different things. Here at ATI, the job options are diverse, from writing blogs and giving tours, like I do as an Admissions Ambassador, to working with cattle on the farms. There are so many opportunities for work. The money made at these jobs is undoubtedly important and helpful, but the opportunities these jobs allow for are one of a kind. 

Being a student ambassador for only a few months at this point, I have already met so many people. I have also learned so many lifelong skills that cannot be learned in a classroom. I would highly recommend to any college student to take a leap of faith and try something new with a job on campus.  

Written By Lexi Troyer

Second-year student Aiden Robinson is spending his summer out-of-state in Long Island, New York, working with Summerhill Landscapes. With this company he is completing a summer internship where he is enhancing both his connections with other interns and his landscaping expertise. At Ohio State ATI, Aiden is studying landscape horticulture with an interest in turfgrass management. In fact, it was his turfgrass professor who guided him to this internship opportunity.

When asked how this internship has influenced his future academic or career plans, Aiden notes, “It has guided me to know that I am in the right career.” He also highlights the diverse team of individuals with whom he works. He quotes, “I stay with other interns from Honduras, Ireland, France, and elsewhere. Spanish is a common second language here, and having Spanish classes in high school certainly helps with conversing with others.”

One goal he keeps throughout his internship is to find satisfaction in each job he completes with his team. He shares a prime example: “Starting with a newly built house that has no landscaping and taking on a big project to create an appealing landscape look for the property.”

Aiden looks forward to continuing his internship throughout the summer and taking on new projects with his team at Summerhill Landscapes. He credits this internship with allowing him to improve his education in the field of landscaping as it will benefit him after college in finding a job that is both enjoyable and fulfilling.