{"id":83254,"date":"2021-08-17T12:10:26","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T19:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/?p=83254"},"modified":"2021-08-17T12:10:26","modified_gmt":"2021-08-17T19:10:26","slug":"final-reflections-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/?p=83254","title":{"rendered":"Final Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cEvery new beginning comes from some other beginning\u2019s end.\u201d ~Seneca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As my time as a CLM intern comes to a close, it has me thinking back to when it all began three months ago. It simultaneously feels so long ago and like it was just yesterday. I had so many worries coming into the program: Would I get along with my co-intern? Would I make friends or have anyone to hang out with outside of work? Would I physically be able to keep up with my coworkers? Would I like the work? Was it worth moving 16 hours east of my hometown just to turn around and travel back 23 hours west of my home? I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and with grad school looming ever closer I was tempted to just take the summer off. I am so glad that I decided to accept the CLM position and would highly recommend the program to anyone interested. On that note, I would like to use this final blog post to answer some of my own personal initial worries for anyone who might be considering applying to the CLM program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My mom stayed the first week to help me get settled and explore the area!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One of my main concerns was honestly that I would not have anything to do outside of work and would feel lonely and isolated from the outside world, forgotten in rural West Virginia. Marlinton is a small town with, at first glance, seemingly little to do and a small pool of people to befriend. Since being here, however, I have found that concern to be entirely invalid. Having a co-intern is like having a built-in friend. I honestly cannot believe how close Megan and I have become in just the few months that we have known each other \u2013 she feels more like a sister than a coworker. We have come to a point where we do almost everything together, from working and living together, to hiking, backpacking, game nights, and even just going out to get coffee. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to do without her once I get to Montana. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Megan and I have also discovered that there is a strong community within the coworkers at the ranger station. I couldn\u2019t have imagined a more welcoming and kind group of people and I have made genuine friendships that I will forever be grateful for.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another major concern was that I would not be able to physically keep up with my fellow coworkers. I am a reasonably small female who spent the last year and a half sitting in front of a computer working remotely, so the concern was embarrassingly valid. It has definitely been a growing process \u2013 growing not only in the sense of my muscle mass but also confidence in my own abilities. Even after getting here and finding that I am able to keep up with my peers, there was still the lurking concern that I might get passed up for future career opportunities because of my size and gender since conservation and land management often involves manual labor. During this internship though, I have gotten to work with a number of successful women who have been nothing less than inspiring. My mentor, Amy Lovell, is someone I especially look up to and has been endlessly encouraging to me. She is living proof that it is possible to have an established career and also be a wife and mother, all while still having personal hobbies and interests. I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to work under Amy\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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