My path into geoscience was fairly unintentional. Through high school extracurricular activities, I was introduced to topics such as hydrogeology, seismology, paleontology, and glaciology. Although I was intrigued by these studies, I never gave them much consideration for my future—until it came time to apply to college. Scrolling through the endless list of possible majors, there were quite a few that caught my eye. None stuck out quite like the geosciences. I decided to give the geosciences major a try, and after my first year it was clear to me that this was the right major for me.
Each new professor and class at Penn State has opened my eyes to a different aspect of the field, and my passion has only grown. Over time, my interest has narrowed to environmental geosciences, and I have also become interested in sustainability.
This past fall, I took part in Penn State’s Study Away Pittsburgh program, now renamed to City Semester Pittsburgh. This program matches students with community partners and allows the students to work as interns on sustainability projects in Pittsburgh. I was partnered with the Allegheny County Conservation District, working with their urban soils program. This internship consisted of collecting and testing urban soils, analyzing for lead and arsenic contamination—a serious issue in Pittsburgh. Through the results of soil testing, the organization determines whether lots are safe for human interaction. I was shocked by the number of lots that tested unsafe for humans. Most land parcels measured lead concentrations over the acceptable limit of 400 parts per million, with some measuring more than 1,000 parts per million. This experience of working with community members in different neighborhoods of Pittsburgh greatly influenced my interests and led me to add a minor in sustainability.
I am incredibly grateful to Penn State for my experience during the first three years of my college experience. The professors have done an amazing job of developing my knowledge throughout several different areas of the geosciences. Additionally, the faculty in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences have been fantastic in guiding me toward my interests and keeping me on the right track. The opportunities that I have been presented with over the years, have been unforgettable, and hopefully my final year of undergraduate studies will be even better.