Why did you choose to attend Bates?
I put Bates on my list because my high school cross country coach is an alum, and couldn’t say enough good things about his time here. During my visit, I felt truly welcomed by everyone I met and I liked the campus setting far more than any other school I’d visited. Being set in Southern Maine, Bates is 45 minutes from Portland, Bates is within driving distance to many fun beaches and mountains. I was convinced enough to come back for an overnight visit, which sold me. I liked the mentality of the team, the attitude of everyone I met on campus, and the academic/athletic/social balance. I felt like I could be challenged academically and athletically while not being constantly stressed like most students seemed to be at other campuses I visited.
Why did you choose to be a Division III student-athlete?
I ended up choosing Division III over other Division I schools I was looking at, due to the student-athlete balance. I find that it is really important to go to college as a student first, with athletics and extracurriculars coming second. Being able to go on a semester abroad to Copenhagen, taking trips to Acadia with my Water and Watersheds Class, and still having time left over to spend with my friends, without being at risk of losing an athletic scholarship seemed essential to what I wanted out of my college experience.
What is your dream job/career?
Eventually, I would like to own an urban composting business. I want to process food waste, yard waste, and any biodegradable materials. Producing compost, biogas, and digestate fertilizer to help alleviate the need for synthetic fertilizers will reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lead to stabilized nitrogen in crop fields, and divert waste from landfills. My ideal role in the company would be managing the logistics of the operation and providing information to clients on how they can use byproducts from other industries, rather than virgin materials. I believe we need to become a circular economy, and with an education focused on food, this job is the best way I feel I can contribute.
What extracurricular activities or service activities do you participate in?
I have worked in the college greenhouse for the past two years and am working for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) this year. I am also planning to apply for a few Bates Green Grants this fall. I originally got involved with the greenhouse after touring it freshman year for a class and wanting more time among the plants. I have found it to be a peaceful sort of meditative experience during the height of class and running stress, as well as supplementing my summer earnings. With plenty of watering and plant care treatment experience, it has been a meaningful semi-weekly routine. After an internship at MOFGA this summer (home of the Common Ground Country Fair) I agreed to keep working for them on a contract basis throughout the fall, assisting the development team with their 50th-anniversary fundraising campaign. Through the organization, I have met so many great Mainers who are passionate about regenerative agriculture and doing their part in adapting Maine to Climate Change. Lastly, I want to take advantage of Bates’ Green Grants program to increase Bike Infrastructure on campus, compost bin access, and establish a tool library for students.
Looking back on your four years, what are you most proud of?
I am proud of prioritizing my interests rather than succumbing to outside pressures when it comes to balancing academics and athletics, going abroad, and making room for extracurriculars and a social life. A lot of people get focused on one aspect of their college life, but so far I have managed to lead a life in college without any regrets when it comes to balance.
What has been your favorite class outside of your major?
My favorite class outside of my major has been Introduction to Python. I’ve always enjoyed the technical and logistical aspects of life, and this intro class has helped me define my path moving forward after Bates. With a relatively new Digital and Computational Studies Department, I have not had the opportunity to take many computer science courses at Bates, but I fully intend to continue integrating coding with my Environmental Science background during graduate school and beyond.
Have you studied abroad during your collegiate experience?
I had an amazing experience at DIS Copenhagen this past spring. Looking at colleges, I made sure to choose one where I could study abroad, as I participated in a German Exchange Program in high school and was anxious to go back to Europe. Visiting eight countries between individual trips and field studies, I got a comprehensive view of the EU’s approach to environmental legislation. My primary course was Sustainable Food: Production and Consumption, where we toured Danish farms, hosted representatives from major food producers, and had a study tour in and around Barcelona. After having learned about EU Common Agriculture Policy legislation, I feel like I have a much stronger foothold for my senior year at Bates and applying to graduate school.
What internships/research projects have you participated in?
I have worked at Pleasant View Gardens (home of national plant brand Proven Winners), lef Farms (a one-acre hydroponic greenhouse in Loudon, N.H.), and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. All three internships were quite different, but all were beneficial experiences for guiding me towards where I want to work in the field of sustainable agriculture. It turns out that I am not cut out to be a farmer or orchardist, but I like playing a supporting role, working with spreadsheets and data to keep up with logistics for those who are in the field.
What is your favorite place on your campus?
On the second floor of Ladd Library, there is a row of chairs in front of the windows facing the library quad. Particularly at the end of Fall 2021, I found comfort reading in a leather armchair with a warm lamp on the side table next to me. The whole atmosphere is very cozy, especially with a bit of rain outside.
What is something you enjoy doing when not in class or competing in your sport?
During the little time that I’m not in season I enjoy hiking and kayaking. Growing up, my family would rent a house on Goose Rocks Beach in Maine each summer. My grandpa, parents, and I, loved to paddle out in the harbor looking for the friendly local harbor seals. Although we haven’t been in recent years, I still enjoy kayaking on the Merrimack River near my home in Concord, N.H. With access to White Mountain National Forest only an hour away from my house, I also love to hike. I am only halfway through the 4,000-footers, but whenever I have a free weekend in the summer, I usually take a trip up north to the mountains.
