As I partake in this 12 day adventure in Laramie, Wyoming, I expect to grow in a multitude of ways!

Personally, only having lived in New Jersey and Pittsburgh, I am not used to the Wyoming way of life. After years of fast-paced living, where everything I could possibly need is at my immediate fingertips, I hope to grow more patient and connect more with my surroundings in Laramie. I also hope to get out of my comfort zone by trying new foods, talking to people with different perspectives from me, and engaging in new cultural experiences (such as the Cheyenne rodeo)! In Wyoming, I will set my biases and personal opinions on the back burner and embrace western American culture with an open mind, in the hopes of becoming a more well rounded, accepting person.

Professionally, I hope to learn new skills that will help me in my future career and in engaging with different types of people. As an environmental studies major, I hope to work in the realm of policy. While this Pitt Study Away experience is an introduction to field methods course, knowing both sides of the field: field work and legislation will help me gain a greater understanding. I will be more knowledgable in speaking with environmental scientists, and more comfortable discussing data collected in the field.