Artifacts

As a college student, spring break should be best the single most best week of the year. It’s the time to be a stereotypical college student and par-tay it up. It’s even better for me because I already call the ultimate party destination home. While I might live on the west coast of Florida, known for its resident population of the 60 yr+ community, and not the east coast where all the fun happens, it still beats staying in Ohio, a state very well known for its wonderful weather.

Going to the beach, hanging out by the pool, and being in the sun (oh my lord I never knew how much I missed the sun until I started college here) are all fine and dandy but it was so nice to be able to hang out with my family, and, most importantly, my dog. Overall spring break was pretty great; I got a sunburn (that will eventually turn into a tan), saw Captain Marvel twice, and even got a tattoo.

Even though I came back to school realizing that I probably should have done more homework, it was nice to go on a mental and physical vacation. I never really understood how rough college life would actually be, and now that I’m living it, it’s hard. While school, work, and just thinking about the general future can get to me, it’s important to understand that not everything needs to be figured out at once and that it’s okay to stop and breathe for a second.

I talked with my mentor Ansley Watkins, who is a second year Natural Resource Management Major. She was first an Animal Science major, then switched to Forest, Fisheries, and Wildlife, but finally chose to pursue Natural Resource Management. She liked the aspect of being able to balance learning about environmental systems and social sciences.

Ansley is part of the Morrill activities board, the LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation) Program, The Movement, the Morrill Scholars Program, undergraduate student government, and is an SENR ambassador. She told us that it was important to be involved on campus and to be active. She has also participated is several undergraduate research programs. She was able to tell us where she was able to look up how to participate in undergraduate research and how research actually worked.

Ansley said she was happy that she decided to join the Environment and Natural Resources Programs during her first year. Last year over fall break she went on the backpacking trip. Even though she had never gone backpacking before she had a great time and was glad she went. She is also on the leadership council panel, where she said she helps to plan events for the program. Her advice to us was to get out of our comfort zone and to try things we haven’t done before.

Ansley said she was still deciding on what she plans to do after completing college but she said that she will probably go on to graduate school. She also has a few ideas on what she plans on doing job wise. She wants to either work in education, teaching younger kids, working abroad, or working with the government to help implement policies directed towards the environment.

Ansley says that she does not really make a schedule for herself as she does not want to restrict herself to a strict schedule. She just writes down what she has to do for the day, and upcoming assignments, and when she has free time she sits and works. When she was a freshman she wish someone had told her that it was okay to take time for herself. She said she has more of an introverted personality so there are times when she just takes time to reflect on things by herself.