a new novel: my lastest update

I thought it’s about time to catch you up on the latest in Mary’s life... the winding, lovely, yet sometimes stressful path of a wanderer…

Well, biggest news is that I’ll FINALLY be graduating this May! YAY! I decided in the end that it’s not worth the extra time to get the two Spanish classes I need to get a dual major, deciding that I’d just make International studies a third minor. So I’m proud to announce that I’ll be graduating with as a Service-Learning Scholar with a BS in Anthropology and three minors including Environmental Studies, International Studies, and Sociology. Now that’s a mouth-full. But I guess it took me long enough, I should have a lot to show for it☺

I finished up my restoration/vegetation internship with Everglades National Park (ENP) at the end of Feb and am now doing a 3-month temp job down in the lower Florida Keys as a “Exotic Strike Team Member” for a Habitat Restoration Team. As opposed to the SCA job in ENP that had a fair amount of office work, this position is all field-based, which is nice for a change for a while (As I do miss flexing my brain muscles on the job… writing, reading, researching a bit…) I have to confess that life in the keys is not too shabby! I’m loving it☺ (And I’m finally connected to the outside world now that I have internet at my house and my cell phone has reception!!!)

So now, a bit about how I got here…and my thoughts on life direction and such. When I started out here in FL, I was thinking that I wanted to do the Utah Conservation Corps, but as I thought about it and calculated how much I’d make (also realizing that with the SCA position behind my belt, I’d be qualified for GS-05 biological technician positions in the National Park Service and other gov agencies), I had second thoughts. I’ve now spent about 2 full years of my life working as an intern, Americorps volunteer, SCA, etc, working for a penance, all the while gaining a whole lot of GREAT and VALUABLE experience…that I don’t regret as it’s been personally enriching and helped me to clarify the type of career and education I’d like to pursue, but I’ve got enough experience to get a better paying job goddamit! Right?

I’m finally growing up! And it is bitter sweet. I’m not sure if you heard about my car catastrophe last fall (on my way to FL, it died for good in CO!), but that left me carless for several months. But I’m proud to announce I’m almost a full blown grown up as I’ve now got my desired car (with accompanying loan and insurance payments)…a 2002 subaru outback…and I’m in love with her! Can’t wait to get back out west really use her☺

Anyhow, I’ve really been feeling the pull to be in the mountains, so I’ve started looking for seasonal jobs out west in January, but turns out the federal hiring process is a nightmare and a very long one at that (not to mention the economy)…so stressed about not having anything lined up, this job in the keys fell in my lap. It’s a perfect in-betweener (and decent pay), but I’m still looking out west and have expanded my search to jobs outside of the government (and now feel I can be a bit pickier cause I’ve got more time). I’m really enjoying field-work, being outside, physical work, and gaining new kinds of knowledge and learning new skills. It’s refreshing.

At this point, I’m keeping my options pretty open and would be satisfied with a wide range of options (seasonal work, entry level positions for 1-2 years, funded Masters or PhD programs) Long term, my goal is still to blend social science with conservation and land/natural resource management, preferably internationally. I definitely want to pursue grad school at some point, but am not necessarily in a hurry to do so. I’m still weighing whether a biological science-based, social-science based, interdisciplinary, or natural resource degree is in my best interest (and at this point I’m unlikely to get into an unpaid position or program. Ideally, I’d like an assistantship or fellowship…so I’m keeping my eyes peeled for those). And of course, international travel is always in the back of my mind, but I’ve got to buckle down for a while…and make some money or get more education...or a combination of all of the above:)

We’ll see where the wind blows me…

One of my top choices at this point is a 5 month, well-paying conservation and land management internship (http://www.clminternship.org/ ). Would you be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me? I feel I’m a competitive candidate for one of the 100 or so they offer each year…

Another appealing option I an across through an announcement for PhD Fellowships on sustainability, conservation, and natural resources at University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. I’ve started a correspondence and am not qualified for the PhD program, but I’m looking into their Master’s program. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/nrem/students/grad-e_komo_mai.html#admit) seems like a really good fit (integrative and multi-disciplinary program that uses a systems approach to understand and manage tropical terrestrial ecosystems) …I think Hawaii could be a nice place to do grad school, eh? So a request for a letter of recommendation might come for that one sometime soon as well. Or maybe it’d be a better option next year…I’ll see how the correspondence goes☺

Personally, I can’t complain either. I’ve been meeting some great people, living in beautiful places, exploring within and outside of myself☺ Although, I seriously miss elevation and the anthro nerd crew from USU! Dani is graduating this May too! At this point, I’m not going to make it back to walk though. Not sure it’s worth the hassle…but I’m hoping my path brings me through Utah sooner than later!