...and I’m greatly honored to be a Grossman Scholarship recipient. This scholarship will be imperative to allow me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management at Colorado State University and to continue my career working with the land.
I’m incredibly lucky to have grown up the way I have. The outdoors have always been a huge part of my life. Since I was three months old, my parents have been taking me hiking, camping, and fishing so I could enjoy the outdoors. And it paid off; I embrace any opportunity to take to the local trails, spend time flipping through field guides, and teach others about the plants that grow near our community. My mom is a total plant nerd, and since we first moved to Colorado, she’s had me helping to identify all the native and invasive plants in our yard, the neighborhood, and our favorite mountain areas. She was also the one who first introduced me to my pride and joy: the Junior Ranger Program.
We learned of this incredible opportunity for teens starting at 14 years old, and I applied as soon as I could. I was so thrilled to be able to work with Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks (Boulder OSMP), an organization that truly cares about preserving the land. It was such an amazing experience that I applied again for my second year. And then a third. By my fourth year, I had mastered the art of leading others to get things done in the most efficient way and being a person my crew members looked up to. It was in that fourth summer that I finally figured out that natural resources were my true mission, that I was passionate about preserving the land, and that I wanted to spend my time helping others do the same.
The Junior Ranger program led me to join VOC, who gracefully offered me a Grossman Scholarship. At the end of my summer job, I was looking for a way to continue doing outdoor work throughout the school year. We performed invasive weed removal in an urban park, barbed wire removal in Jefferson County, and trail building and tree planting in the Cal-Wood Education Center burn scar. The VOC Cairn program taught me so much about how to be creative in my outdoor work and how to lead various groups of people in different ways. I’m very lucky to have been a part of this group.
Once I discovered that I wanted to spend my life outside, a career in Natural Resource Management felt, well, natural to me. I notice every little thing about the ecosystems I spend my time in, and I admire how everything in the environment is designed to work together. This degree path will allow me to learn more about the world and how to preserve, protect, and responsibly manage the natural resources we have. Through the work I’ve done so far, I’ve learned how important it is to make the land accessible while also being sustainable, and I’ve learned how much I love making sure nature works for everyone. I’m so lucky to have found my calling for the outdoors at a young age, and I’m even more lucky to have the support of VOC and the Grossmans as I continue my journey.
The Grossman scholarship will enable me to pursue opportunities without being as constrained by finances. I’ll be able to take on internships to enhance my skills in a more professional environment and spend time in other activities and professional groups through my university. I’ll continue volunteering to enhance my skills and knowledge of the outdoors and gain a diverse range of experiences. In a week, I’ll return to the Junior Ranger program, working as a crew leader at the job that helped me find my true calling. In three months, I’ll begin my education. And in four years, I’ll be in the field making a difference. Thank you again to VOC and the Grossmans for your generosity in offering me this opportunity to pursue my true passion.
