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Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Philo, IL
Year/Graduation: Sophomore, May 2028
Concentration: Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Biology
Why Illinois? – What factors helped contribute to your decision to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?
Being from the Champaign-Urbana area and having gone to the campus high school, attending UIUC felt like the next natural step to take. I was already used to the feel of campus and knew my way around town. In addition, my parents both graduated from UIUC and work for the university, so there was extra pressure from them to attend.
However, I was still the one to make the choice to come here. I toured other schools in Illinois, but none had the unique environment of UIUC. It has a beautiful, walkable campus in a city that doesn't feel overwhelming. The academics are prestigious without being ridiculously intense. Even the largest lectures still offer chances for one-on-one discussions with professors.
There are hundreds of opportunities, with something for everyone. And for me, of course, it's home.
Why NRES? – Specifically, why did you choose to study Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences?
Since I was a child, I always knew I wanted to work with animals. The specifics of that dream career evolved and changed as I grew, but that core principle remains true today. Through high school, though, I was not sure how I would go about landing a job that enabled me to research wildlife. It seemed as though most careers that worked with animals either dealt with medicine or psychology, and neither of those fields interested me. But after taking courses in high school focused on environmental sciences and entomology, I finally had an idea of what I wanted to study.
NRES is not a specific major. If you have an interest in any aspects of the environment, there is an NRES niche for you. I have taken courses focused on ecology, geology, animal biology, and native plant management. I interned with an Illinois Natural History Survey entomologist and plan on seeking out further internships with other researchers. I got my hands dirty at NRES field day looking at soil profiles and banding migratory birds, and I have made so many memories along the way.