What has been your career path thus far? I interned with the SBFC during the summer of my junior year of college. After graduation I applied for Wilderness Ranger positions throughout the west. I ended up landing a job with Olympic National Park as a Wilderness Information Assistant; this role was a mix of wilderness ranger and permit distributor. I found that while I loved working for the National Parks, I missed the physical nature of trail work and the direct connection I gained with the landscape. The following spring I got a position with the Washington Trails Association (WTA) as a Youth Trail Crew Leader. After a season in that role I got the position of Youth Programs Assistant. I worked in the field leading day and week-long trail work crews, as well as working in the office coordinating trips and leading trainings. After several outdoor jobs, I have again pivoted and I’m working in public high school as an Educational Assistant in the Special Education department.
What was the most poignant experience you had as an intern? The entire summer was filled with life changing experiences and constant learning. The community is what I cherish most about that summer. Spending long days working with others in the endless pursuit of maintaining wilderness trails is a special bond, one that I’ve experienced working on numerous forests throughout the west. Getting to know my co-workers on a deep level and knowing their backgrounds, motivations, and life experiences has influenced my decisions about my own future. That summer at the SBFC was special for me because my co-workers were so passionate and knowledgeable about the history of the Wilderness Act, ecology, fly fishing, and all things trail work. Being able to learn in a tight knit trail community while doing good hard work taught me more than most of my college classes.
How did the SBFC internship play a role in landing your first job out of college? SBFC taught me strategies to use when applying for federal jobs which gave me a huge advantage in the application process. Doing campsite inventories, maintaining trails, and interacting with visitors gave me the experience and skills I needed to excel at my job at Olympic National Park.
How did the internship help you in your college work? My summer at the SBFC directly affected my senior year of school. I started school with a stronger work ethic and was far more motivated about my classwork. Also, I could speak to Wilderness ethics and land management issues based on my experience. I’ve often thought of the teamwork and communication skills I gained during my summer at SBFC.
Where do you see yourself in five years? It’s hard to say where I’ll be at in five years, given how I could have never guessed where’d I’d be right now. I know that whatever I do, my experiences working in the woods, and particularly my formative experiences with the SBFC, will influence my work and life forever.
