It was exciting to share my enjoyment and amazement in the near miracle of the plants that give us sustenance. I didn't think of this passion as 'agriculture' until I went to college.
After I graduated from high school, I followed in my mother's and sister's footsteps and attended West Virginia University. While my sister had been decisive in her choice to study chemistry, I struggled to decide on a major area of study. I excelled in and enjoyed the sciences, but I couldn't imagine what a biologist or a chemist actually did. Agriculture, however, was something I could wrap my head around. I could easily see the big picture and understand the importance of feeding the world. I finally decided on studying agroecology. Agroecology studies agriculture specifically with the goal of creating a socially responsible and environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural system. This global challenge intrigued me.
I enjoyed most of my coursework, but my first soil science course truly changed my perspective. Never before had I thought so much about the precious 'dirt' beneath my feet. Did you know soil has layers? It does, just like ogres and onions!
After learning about just how different soils can be, from red to grey, wet to dry, and sandy to clayey, I began to learn about how important elements like carbon and nitrogen move in and out of soil with the help of plants and microbes living beneath the surface of the soil. The study of of these cycles, called biogeochemistry, truly sparked my interest and ever since has been my chosen niche within the big picture of agriculture.
Before graduating college, I knew I wanted to experience agriculture in a context outside of the United States.
