By Bridgette Kirk
For my senior year, I am participating in a study abroad program in Australia. I have just finished my first month and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering it. This has been a lifelong common sense lesson combined with hands on learning experiences in the field. I have gained information about how the natural resources field operates in Australia and the main message from our professors is to take your time and enjoy life. The route to higher education in Australia is one filled with much more leisure than the road paved by most American students. Many American students feel the need to get into their research right after their bachelors. In Australia, however, many of the researchers have just recently decided on their projects and may not have had any former knowledge about their subject beforehand, just the willingness to learn more. (disclaimer: I would just like to say that I am not trying to generalize but rather I am trying to get the point across that being motivated and driven to learn about a subject is important. If you are very knowledgeable about your subject that is tremendous. More power to you). We all possess curiosity for the unknown, but for me the idea of trying something new for your masters or PhD is quite daunting.
Below are a few tidbits I have picked up from chatting with Aussie professors and graduate students:
Take advantage of every opportunity regardless of monetary reward. Volunteering is quite important for building your resume and adding to your skill set. Many employers see volunteering as dedication because you were willing to do the job without being financially compensated or motivated. Volunteering is also a great way to figure out what you like and what you cannot stand to do for another minute.
Travel, travel, travel! Enjoy your youth: travel, explore and find out what you are passionate about. Have adventures while you can and before you are tied down with other commitments. While you are off having adventures try to volunteer at some sort of wildlife-y company/organization/reserve just to gain some more experience. Traveling also helps you to gain an international perspective that will help you with communicating with international scientists that you may or may not have the opportunity to work with.
Graduate school does not have to define your long-term career interests (unless you want it to, of course). One of my tutors here (we call them TA’s in the U.S.) did their graduate work on one thing, completed their research and in the process of doing so realized that they did not want to continue working on that subject. They have since switched to work on what they are truly passionate about. At least in Australia, professors seem to be lenient with regard to students changing their topics or subjects before they have totally committed themselves.
Professors are people too, usually. They are familiar with your situation, although for some of them it may be much more recently than others. Regardless, the main point is that they probably understand a lot of what you are going through and in general would like to help see that you learn and grow as a researcher and scientist. Communication is very important, especially when you are trying to select a professor to work with for your graduate work and when you are figuring out your project and planning the work you need to do.
To wrap this up in a few words: college is what you make it. I took advantage of the opportunity to study abroad and I know it is going to influence my wildlife career. Who knows, maybe I will be going back to Australia for graduate school or work or maybe even some place new. And, although I will not be graduating debt free, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and learned so much from the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met in Australia. In the end, especially in the wildlife field, it is about learning (even if it’s mostly from mistakes), engaging yourself in worthwhile tasks and research to become a better biologist rather than a millionaire. So take the leap and travel somewhere, study if you can, meet people and discover how much more to the world there is outside of the U.S. bubble.
Bridgette is currently finishing up her undergraduate at U.C. Davis and serves as a co-chair on the Western Section Student Affairs Committee.
