To Wear or Not to Wear, That is the Question
An SRJC-BML Internship Story
Tsoi is currently majoring in Chemistry and intends to pursue a career in healthcare field. She is also interested in other learning opportunities besides her field of study.
To wear or not to wear these clothing, that was my question everyday as a land steward intern. Most of my internship was spent outdoors doing fieldwork for habitat restoration, specifically invasive plants removal. I worked closely with my mentor Luis, the Bodega Marine Reserve steward, and Cabrilla. Since we worked significant amount of time outdoors, field safety became my priority every day. I make sure I check the weather forecast before I arrive at work. I also ensured that I wear and bring extra clothing. On my first day of internship, I dressed relatively thin since I had not been out in Bodega for a while. I forgot how much cooler it is in Bodega compared to Santa Rosa. I was pretty much shivering all day in almost 30 mph wind. Can you guess one piece of clothing that I bought immediately after my first day? The answer was a ski mask. I used perhaps two other times on windy days during my internship.
I would recommend this internship to anyone who is interested in land management or environmental studies with unsure emphasis. Luis was very transparent about his experience and the job. Interns could gain valuable networking. Despite the strenuous physical labor, I found this internship to be fulfilling knowing that I directly contributed to the process of ecological restoration. This internship inspired me to explore more conservation volunteering opportunities.
About the Program:
The SRJC-BML Internship Program provides summer research opportunities for Santa Rosa Junior College students at the Bodega Marine Laboratory.