Student Reflections

Kenya Student Reflection: Carlee Simpson

"Global simultaneity. A phrase I have thought about often during my three Earth Expeditions with Project Dragonfly. ... Each juncture naturally carries on without you, but in those rare, special occasions it can feel like certain ones were waiting just for you to experience them"

Belize Student Reflection: Kayla Clark

“I am a saltwater human through and through so I was surprised that the parts of the trip that most impacted me were inland and not in the clear blue ocean water."

Guyana Student Reflection: Samantha Wolfe

"My title for this blog post comes from the many people I’ve simply educated about the geography of South America (and Africa)"

Namibia Student Reflection: Kate Hankins

"Conserving animals can only happen with and for the local people, and we will always be stronger for including them"

Costa Rica Student Reflection: Eileen Keating

"Having a deep passion and drive for an issue can be consuming and being able to see that issue through a variety of perspectives is invaluable"

Australia Student Reflection: Meghan Manary

" I now joke that nothing that I do in the future will ever matter because I have completed my life goal of studying conservation in Australia, which I once thought was unachievable (part of me is not joking though)"

India Student Reflection: Allie Coronado

"Words will never truly encompass the life-transforming experience I endured during my time there,"

Belize Student Reflection: Tami Masuoka

“Belizean birds

Every shape, size, and color

Paint the summer skies”

Belize Student Reflection: Lydia Collier

"Not only did we learn about the community of Belize and how to incorporate ideas that we learned from this experience into our individual communities at home, but we created a community amongst ourselves as an EE group"

Thailand Student Reflection: Grace Masaoka

"The experiences in Thailand taught me so much, in so many different ways. Being immersed in Thai culture and Buddhism, learning about conservation efforts, getting to explore our own inquiries, and the privilege of seeing hornbill research up close and personal (and the list goes on)"

Belize Student Reflection: Charles Ruff

"There is no doubt in my mind that if I could go back and do it all over again then I would! I wouldn't change anything about it."

Paraguay Student Reflection: Melissa Neufer

"I can go anywhere and know it will be what it will be"

Borneo Student Reflection: Elizabeth Jackson

"Quitting one career, and getting back into school as a 'non-traditional' student was exciting; I was finally following the path I'd put aside for decades."

Baja Student Reflection: Polly Diffenbaugh

“I am so glad I was finally able to start this program and come on this trip. It felt like such a long time coming and such a much needed addition to my life right now…”

Baja Student Reflection: Cindy Kelly

"There is nothing like an experience to make real what you may have only imagined!”

Guyana Student Reflection: Katie Krafte

"I find the ecology so fascinating and could read about jaguars, monkeys, caiman, etc. forever and be very happy"

Borneo Student Reflection: Lindsey Stegh

"I am fully prepared and excited to venture into a new chapter in my career – leading learners through experiences in nature’s classroom outdoors.”

Australia Student Reflection: Katelynn Mulrooney

"As we waited, observing one of the fruiting palms, we saw a flying fox land high up in the leaves along with others we had most likely seen fly above us earlier in the evening."

Paraguay Student Reflection: Christina Thompson

"The more I learn about conservation and the more I travel, I have come to realize that conservation is less about plants and animals and more about people and our relationships"

Belize Student Reflection: Ashley Watts

"The distinct noise of howler monkeys, the taste of stewed chicken, the smell of the sea breeze and bug spray, and the amazingly teal and blue and cerulean and green colors of the water"

Borneo Student Reflection: Stephanie Quihuiz

"I am not sure how these experiences fit into my journey through life, but I know that I was meant to experience this place for a reason. I am thankful for all the amazing experiences and people that Borneo introduced me to"

Brazil Student Reflection: John Scott

"Regrowth. This term is so simple and straightforward; however it completely encompasses my entire experience in Brazil"

Kenya Student Reflection: Drew Heyward

"The idea that conservation is not just about animals really hit home, and working firsthand with people made me realize these issues are not black and white"

Mongolia Student Reflection: Kym Janke

“The hospitality, generosity and friendliness of everyone we met in Mongolia is what jumps out at me first"

Amazon Student Reflection: Fiorella Gardella

"I will never forget all those different butterflies, the macaws and parrots, and the footprint of the jaguar"

Galapagos Student Reflection: Christie Miller

"I enjoyed the opportunity to sit and observe nature in silence for extended periods of time. I was counting birds and marine iguana sneezes in each of the inquiry projects, but it was more than that.  I was observing details of nature, which is something I don’t often take the time to do"

Baja Student Reflection: Tessa Cafritz

"I think about sleeping under the stars, about walking through forests of cacti as the sun was setting, creating biolumincise through the waving of my hands"