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Why USF?...
I decided to attend USF because it offered an environmental science
program, which was not offered in many other colleges in Florida. I also
liked the variety of different majors that were available in case I
wanted to pursue other subjects as well. |
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First Day...
My first day on campus was chaotic, with lots of parking problems and
struggling to find my way around campus in the Florida heat! Everyone was
really nice and helpful, though, and I enjoyed the feeling of being in a
“real” college for the first time and the atmosphere was great. |
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Student activities ...
My main involvement at USF has been with the
Karst Research Group on
campus. We have been trying to spread the word about Karst and the great
foundation we are building at USF for Karst-related research by hosting
international speakers, fundraising events, and recruiting new members.
The Karst Research Group is made up of some of the most outgoing and
hard-working students and faculty advisors on campus and their
dedication really makes the group successful!
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Activities ...
On campus, I like to go shoot some hoops at the
Rec Center and relax
at the pond near Magnolia feeding and photographing the wildlife. Off
campus, the main places I go are Riverfront Park, CDB’s Pizza, the
bowling alley, Skipper’s, and Ritz Camera in the Mall. |
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Professors ...
The professors at USF are excellent and diverse in so many ways. I
have many favorites, especially my main advisor, Dr. Philip van Beynen, because of his generous support, good sense of humor, and
patience. There are so many great ones, it would be hard to list them
all!
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Research ...
As both an undergraduate and graduate student here at USF, I have
participated in many different research projects. I have traveled to
Belize three times to do caving fieldwork in the jungle for part of my
research. I’ve used different lab equipment at
USF St. Petersburg and spent several weeks at the University of New Mexico
working in a Mass Spectrometry lab dating samples. I have been able to
travel and meet many people around the world as part of my research
activities at USF, making many great contacts and gaining skills that
will help me in the job market in the future. |
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Multiculturalism ...
The cultural diversity at USF has been beneficial in helping me open
my eyes to the global impact that many areas of research, including my
own regarding climate change, impact the world. I get to talk to people
from all over the world and be in class with people from places like
Kuwait, Romania, Russia, and South America, who bring new perspectives
and ideas that I would otherwise never have known to the discussions. |
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Metropolitan area ...
USF’s location in Tampa has been convenient and watching it grow along
with the area has been amazing, but in the future I will be heading away
from Tampa to take a job wherever the academic job search leads me
(hopefully some place cooler with some mountains!) |
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Global ...
USF has prepared me to think globally through all of the international
research collaborations, conferences, projects, and the diverse number of
students and faculty I have been able to interact with throughout my years here.
All of this, along with my coursework, has given me the tools I need to better
understand the global perspective of many of the issues I value and the ability
to expand my views to appreciate so many other cultures. |
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