Thanks to the Mosaics in Science Diversity Internship Program, I have a greater sense of respect and admiration for the National Park Service. Working with scientists in both the Greater Yellowstone Inventory and Monitoring Network and the Yellowstone Center for Resources has inspired me immensely. As a first generation college student, it has been difficult for me to settle on a career path after completing college. However, the mentoring that I received from the Yellowstone National Park scientists continues to steer me in the right direction. The career possibilities with the National Park Service exceed my wildest expectations; I can do fieldwork, write papers, and provide Citizen’s Science opportunities all in the same job! Before this internship, I had never realized the importance of citizen science. I now see that citizen science initiatives help bridge the gap between science and the public all while sparking public interest in what scientists are doing.
I highly recommend applying for this program and others like it. It is safe to say that this program has changed my life. I would like to thank the Greening Youth Foundation, Geologic Resources Division, and National Park Service for all that they do for aspiring scientists such as myself! Also, I am very thankful for my wonderful supervisors Erik Oberg, Kristin Legg, and Erin Shanahan for guiding me throughout this internship.
