Growing up, my father always emphasized the importance of preserving the natural world and living a simple life. As I began to explore the world and my passions as a writer, I held those teachings close. I learned the most about myself and the morals I was made of while I was traveling and experiencing different ways of living. Despite my early inclining to move to a big city and become a big- time writer, my father’s core teachings always triumphed. Through trial and error of exploring what sets my soul on fire to write, I finally settled on conservation when I was enrolled in the J-school in 2019.
Butternut, WI- 2006
My first experiences in appreciating nature came when my dad took me on my first of many hunting trips on our hunting land in Butternut, WI. I learned how to move silently through the woods, observe animals from afar, and spot tracks in the mud. I loved the idea of a world separate from my own that I could learn to explore.
South Dakota- 2014
As my experience and wisdom of the outdoors flourished, my father took my brother and I out west on a pheasant hunting trip. I will never forget the beautiful wetlands we trekked through on the pursuit of these incredible birds. This was also the first time I cleaned an animal I had harvested by myself. My father also taught me the outdoorsman’s prayer around this time, and the importance of saying it before harvesting the meat from an animal.
Amherst, WI- 2006-2018
Growing up in a rural area with a population of 1,000, I spent most of my time running around the backyard with my brother. We didn’t have TV’s, cellphones, or even a computer, so we entertained ourselves by exploring the outdoors. We often made catalogs of bugs we found in the garden, collected caterpillars mom let us raise inside, or caught turtles down by the millpond. Growing up this way was by far the most impactful experience I had towards becoming a conservationist.
New York, NY- 2016
When I decided I wanted to become a writer, I told everybody I was going to move to New York City and work for Good Morning America. My dad, being wiser than me, took me on my first trip to the big apple to get a real taste for the city. After three days, I hated it. The people were mean, there weren’t any animals, and the green spaces felt fake and chintzy. It was discouraging to learn that I never wanted to live in the city where my “dream job” lived, but it pointed me in a better direction.
Los Angelos, CA- 2018
Upon high school graduation, my family and I took a trip to Los Angelos for a short, weekend getaway. I though that maybe this central hub for journalism/ media would re-inspire me to pursue my writing career in a big city. Once again, I was wrong. I couldn’t stand the downtown area, and the ugly it possessed. Witnessing the homeless problem for the first time opened my eyes up to the ugliness that humanity could create. After that, we spent the majority of our trip by the ocean. I spent hours searching for shells, playing in the waves, and hunting for crabs. I wrote about everything that crawled in the sand and under the sea, but not once did I mention the city, the boardwalks, or the people that I had seen.
Compass Cay, Bahamas- 2019
Before my admittance to the J-school in 2019, I got the opportunity to go to the Bahamas with my family on a week- long excursion. Just steps from our beach house were the most beautiful coral reefs I have ever seen. My parents literally had to drag me out of the water at the end of the day. I woke up and 5 am every morning to catch the out- going tide and the critter the ocean left behind. I documented the shells I found as well as all the different kinds of crabs, fish, and birds I saw. Each morning, I climbed to the highest point of the island to watch the sunrise, and noted how it was different from mornings before. This was the most intimate experience with the ocean I have ever had, and I pray that one day I’ll get to go back.
Madison, WI- 2020
Upon my induction to the School of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, I was still a bit unsure of what I wanted to do during my time as a student here. There are so many options and avenues one can take in the pursuit of a career at UW- Madison, but I hold my lifelong experiences with the outdoors close to heart. While living in the city, I have discovered my passion for conservation and hope to implement it into my writing career.
The Greenhorn 