I always knew I wanted to go abroad in my undergraduate, but I had to choose between a more typical study abroad course, like an exchange and a university, and a program like OTS. I went back and forth, but eventually chose OTS because the structure of the program is one where I believed I could both thrive in and grow the most from. I wanted the field experience and the traveling and the smaller group of people, and through this course, I wanted to figure out whether I could see myself with a future in research or ecology (the answer is yes). Also, at the end of the day, the opportunities this course provides are an absolute privilege and truly like no other.

One of my most memorable moments of the trip was one of the first days in Grootvadersbosch coming out of Cape Town. We had some free time and I had gone on a short solo hike in the forest, which was breathtaking. I had sat near a stream listening to the sounds and thinking about how lucky I was to experience this moment and how excited I was to have so many more of them to come. I played music, danced around, scampered up rocks, looked at frogs, and relished the joy and peace of being in nature for the purpose of being in nature.