While it meant that I could pursue a research project that I was absolutely thrilled about and explore a country I’d always wanted to see, it also meant moving halfway across the world to a city where I knew virtually no one. But I chose not to let that fear stop me, and I am grateful every day to have made that decision.
Explore what interests you, even if you aren’t sure where it leads. As I wrote about in my very first journal entry, my path to science was not linear. Ecology wasn’t a career that was on my mind growing up. I didn’t know scientists, and while I’ve always admired plants, I didn’t realize that I could study them for a living. But something about my first botany class had me hooked, and from there I followed my gut and trusted where it would lead me. For me it’s plants, but for you it might be physics, art, writing or a million other things that could inspire you. Those interests might evolve over time, but that’s okay. Before I dove into the world of ecology, I channeled my energy into dance and art. What matters is that you explore your passions and let them guide you.
Engage with the world around you. Whether you’re an ocean away from home or in your own neighborhood, be present and attentive in your daily life. Our experience of the world becomes so much richer when we notice and participate in what’s going on around us. Here in Australia, I find that I’m able to learn much more about this country’s people and its culture when I am open and interact with others. Those interactions can range from striking a conversation with someone I’ve just met to taking a break from work to spend time doing the things I enjoy with people I love.
And it’s not just people.
