Lessons Learned Along the Way
Learning Without a Map is a collection of reflections on returning to higher education later in life, navigating nontraditional STEM education, internships, fieldwork, setbacks, mentorship, and the unexpected opportunities that shaped my path through geology, GIS, and environmental research.
Why I Take Photographs in the Field
Curiosity and Exploration Why I take photographs in the field started as curiosity; I would always explore areas, even as a kid. I loved traveling and seeing new areas. But I wasn’t being a tourist; I was learning about the area. Why is it different? What has shaped the area? I would go out of…
How Nontraditional STEM Students Can Find Funding
The Financial Reality of Returning to STEM Tuition at colleges and universities has increased dramatically over the past few decades for STEM students. As funding for public education shifts and younger generations continue to face rising costs, higher education becomes increasingly difficult to access for people of all ages. For returning adult students, the challenge…
The Unknown: STEM? It’s About Being There
I was invited to an IVY Tech Community College- Lake County STEM Club meeting, where I presented “The Unknown”. The objective was to do an outreach/ informational presentation focused on internships, research, and pathways into science through hands-on experience. This presentation explored the role of uncertainty, field experience, and learning through action in STEM. Rather…
The Hidden Challenges Facing Non-Traditional STEM Students
Oftentimes, the non-traditional STEM students isn’t part of the conversation. The world has changed, and how we think about college students needs to change with it. When many people picture a college student, they imagine someone in their late teens or early twenties moving between classrooms, studying late into the night, and slowly figuring out…
How Internships Open Doors I Never Expected
I was 43 years old when I found out how internships open doors, Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge gave me that opportunity through the AmeriCorps/SCA internship program. At the time, I was still trying to understand where I fit within science, conservation, and higher education. I simply knew I wanted to learn. After earning…
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