To be completely honest, I would save it! Throughout my time as an undergraduate student, I have been doing my best to save more money than spend. I've done this by taking on numerous jobs and being frugal with my money. However, I can say what that $1,000 will likely go towards! I've been saving money in preparation for graduate school. While I attended undergraduate college only a few states away, I have been eyeing schools that are much farther from home. As I know travel costs will likely be a lot, I know that it is ideal to start saving so once I find that dream graduate position, I won't be as worried about money!

I never saw myself as a frequent non-fiction reader until I started reading books about birds. One of the first ever books I read about birds was "Genius of Birds" by Jennifer Ackerman. I first picked up the book at a library out of state while visiting family. I fell so in love with the book that since I couldn't finish it, I ended up finding a place to buy it before I started heading home! The book discusses the intelligence of birds, something which has only recently started to gain attention in science. Ackerman turns the insult of "bird brain" into a compliment! Each chapter focuses on a species and what unique cognitive ability they exhibit. The way she explains each rigorous scientific study is easy for anyone to understand, including me, who at the time, was only just starting to explore ornithology as a possible career path. Learning about all the studies made me realize that there is so much about birds that we do not know. There are thousands of avian species across the world that have not received the same scientific attention as those in the book. The thought of that excited me and further pursued my interest in a career in ornithological research. I want to focus my research on behavior and communication, something which Ackerman discusses frequently in her book. There is also something more to this book; it re-sparked my interest in reading. I discovered that there are many more books like Ackerman's that discuss ornithological concepts in enjoyable ways. I have now found myself with quite a collection of them! Looking back, I can't wait to pick back up "Genius of Birds" and be amazed again.

This spring, I was faced with a difficult decision. Because of when I transferred to UMaine, which was an obstacle in of itself, I had to take additional classes. While I only had a handful of classes remaining, class scheduling meant it would be more financially viable to take the spring semester off and attend classes in the fall. However, if I couldn't find a job for the spring, it may be better for me to take both spring and fall semesters. So, I began to apply to jobs and internships. Despite having two seasons of field experience, I was being turned away by most and sometimes, didn't even hear back from some. Despite feeling like I wasn't going to get anything, I kept applying. While I waited to hear back, I did food deliveries to get some extra cash. By January, I had applied to well over 50 jobs. I only got interviews for less than ten of them. However, my persistence paid off. I heard back from USFWS Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge for a written interview. The position was one I didn't even expect to hear back from! Then, I got a phone interview. Finally, on one of the last days I could make a decision on what I was doing that spring, they offered me a position! I am happy to say that I am applying to their scholarship from the atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I had to face many other obstacles on the way here, such as getting to Hawai'i, and once I got here. However, I am glad that I didn't give up and found myself in a place I've dreamed of being.

My current big goal is to graduate! Having to endure the COVID-19 pandemic and transferring colleges, I am now finally one semester away from graduating with B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine! From there, I am looking to pursue a career in studying endemic island bird species, such as those found in Hawai'i. These species have incredibly unique evolutionary histories, but are also highly threatened due to climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, and introduced diseases. By studying them, I hope to help the scientific world gain a better understanding of them and provide information that will assist in their conservation. To reach this goal, I am looking to apply for graduate school and eventually a PhD. Currently, my top choices are University of Hawai'i - Hilo, Yale University, and Cornell University! While I pursue graduate positions that will hopefully be paid, I will improve and gain skills by taking on other field positions. Wherever I end up in the next few years, I know that I will seek and pursue opportunities that will work towards research of species that we know little about and those that require the greatest help in conservation.

I love nature because there is so much to learn from it. As someone in academia, I am fascinated by the vast array of different species across the world. Each species has unique natural history that has been forged through millions of years of evolution. Each individual is a part of something so much larger. I appreciate nature by spending time with it. I hike, kayak, snorkel, and go birding. I also try to conserve nature. My dream is study endemic island bird species. Many of these species are endangered due to climate change, invasive species, habitat loss, and introduced diseases. While I could just watch and appreciate these birds, I want to take an active part in helping them. I am pursuing my degree in Wildlife Ecology and further education in hopes that I can take my skills to those species that deserve help the most. Even when I'm not getting paid, I volunteer my time to do more. I am currently spending six months on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge helping in the conservation of seabirds and numerous endangered birds, plants, mammals, reptiles, and fish. Even though I am just one person, I am happy just knowing that my actions count for the nature I am helping and those who will come to appreciate it later on.