My knowledge in this area isn’t very diverse up to this point, so I would love the chance to pursue this study abroad to gain a deeper understanding of this field. I have always had an interest in learning about marine biology since I was a kid. The program would focus more on marine wildlife, which gives me a chance to expand my learning a bit more. I am planning to go on another study abroad trip to New Zealand during the next winter semester. With that being said, I would still love to travel and learn even more in my field of study. While I have not narrowed down my exact career path after college, there are a few areas that have piqued my interest, one of them being conservation and resource policy. What are your career goals with a degree in ecology and conservation biology? I am taking classes now that will help me narrow down which path I would be most passionate about while gaining insight into other areas that can benefit me in the future. The plethora of career options that are possible with a degree in my major was almost overwhelming. My coursework has given me the chance to explore different aspects of ecology including fire ecology, population and community ecology, as well as wildlife conservation and resource policy. How do you think your coursework and experience in your major have helped set you up for success? By taking advantage of the help they offered to me, I plan to still graduate on time, which has always been a goal of mine. The one-on-one time with my adviser gave me the clarity and comfort I needed to make the switch in majors. Discovering yourself and your path is worth the momentary discomfort.īeing a transfer student myself, I would also say not to be afraid to reach out to the advisers our campus has to offer. I really had to push myself out of my comfort zone to attend different club meetings, socials and open houses. For a while with the pandemic and no friends on campus, I was too scared to attend events alone. Texas A&M has so much to offer - great people, professors, clubs, organizations and opportunities. What advice would you give prospective students looking to pursue the same degree as you? Now that I have spent more time with my classmates, it seems I have a friend in each of my classes, which is always a plus. The study abroad trip also provided me the chance to make more like-minded friends on campus. This trip really showed me that I made the right call choosing my major I want to continue to have experiences like this for the rest of my life. Visiting local villages, fishing in lakes only known by locals and having an amazing guide helped make the experience so valuable. We got to see the most biodiverse biome the Earth has to offer in a way many never will. Traveling there was a one-of-a-kind experience. Traveling with the students in my major to Brazil in the Amazon education abroad program hands down. What is the most memorable experience that you have had with the people in your major? I never knew that I would enjoy it as much as I do now. With the prospects of traveling, fieldwork and specimen identification, I could not have contacted my adviser faster to learn how to change my major. The degree plan consisted of course options like general mammalogy, diversity and evolution of vertebrates, fire ecology and many study abroad options. So, I combed through all the majors the university had to offer and found the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology. The coursework for this major focused on micro concepts like organic chemistry and biochemistry that did not appeal to me as much as I had initially hoped it would. I initially began as a zoology major in the College of Arts and Science. Smith sat down with us and shared her experience in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and her future plans with a passion for learning and traveling. “I have been not only able to attend Texas A&M University but also graduate debt free, which is a really big deal in today’s world,” she said. “I came to learn of all the great benefits available to me to be able to pursue a college degree after all because of my father’s service. “It was not until I was much older that we looked into the possibility of me having a college career,” Smith said. Her father, a veteran, passed away when she was a child, and her mother raised Smith and her siblings on her own. (Courtesy Photo)Īttending college was not something Smith pictured while growing up. Sydnee Smith ’24 ecology and conservation biology major holding a tarantula while on her education abroad in the Amazon jungle.
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