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I am currently spending the fall semester of my junior year with the School for Field Studies at their Center for Marine Resource Management in Turks and Caicos.

I chose this study abroad program not only because of the opportunity to take classes in and around marine environments, which I have always been passionate about, but also because of the opportunities to conduct directed research with one of my professors towards the end of the semester and to give back to our community through twice-weekly community outreach.

Although all three of these points compelled me to study here, I am most looking forward to researching with one of my professors. I have not been assigned a research project yet, but I can't wait to get started!

During my sophomore spring, I conducted an independent research project as part of my Phenology class.

Phenology is essentially the study of biological change over time, so I chose to research the effect of warming ocean temperatures (due to climate change) on Eastern North Pacific Gray Whale migration.

I compiled and analyzed several datasets to determine the annual mean day-of-year of whale sightings off the coast of Northern California during the spring months.

I then compared these means for each year, but did not find a significant difference in sighting day over time. However, these Gray Whales have been seen in regions well outside their range (eg. the Mediterranean Sea), so while their migration timing may not yet have shifted (as I expected), their geographic range has expanded.

In the summer of 2024, I worked as an Associate Program Leader at the Sparks Rowing Camp based out of Boston University.

Given the unique experience I had at the Northfield Mount Hermon School Sparks Camp last summer, I was still relatively new to the role of Associate Program Leader: I adjusted to working with 60 campers instead of 20, I learned how to run Camp in the middle of the city instead of on an isolated campus, and more.

I also got to work closely with the campers during training, from assisting the coaches during technique sessions, to driving the "barge" (the boat that many rowers use their first few times on the water), to sitting in the shell with the learn-to-rowers to provide stability while filling an empty seat.

Sparks was once again an incredible experience that taught me so much in so many different ways.

In the summer of 2023, I worked for six weeks at Aloha Camp for girls and nonbinary youth in Fairlee, VT. I was a both a tent counselor and a canoe counselor, so during the day, I facilitated fun activities and taught campers how to canoe, and at night (as well as during free times), I was responsible for the two campers living in my tent with my co-counselor and me.

I initially came to Aloha five years ago, inspired by two of my cousins, who were both counselors at the time. After two summers of camp, Covid hit and I hadn't been back until this summer.

Not only did I learn a lot about myself as I transitioned to the role of counselor, but I also got to reconnect with old friends and mentors.

All in all, Aloha is an experience I'll never forget.

Also in the summer of 2023 , I worked as an Associate Program Leader at the Sparks Rowing camp located at the Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Unfortunately, because of the unusual amount of rain earlier in the summer, E. coli was in the river and none of the boats could go out; this made my job even more important. Along with the Program Leaders and Coaches, I planned land workouts – from erging (using rowing machines) to cross-training – and info sessions about what it means to be a healthy student-athlete. I also acted as the sole lifeguard during the pool workout.

Sparks is an amazing program that helps young rowers improve their athletic ability and I was so glad to be a part of the program.