February 6, 2020

Sonja Killebrew

Peace Corps

701 Varick Street

New York, NY, 10014

Dear Professor Killebrew,

I would like to introduce myself and describe my background and experiences with the field of science. I primarily became interested in science as a child, I was always very curious about the world, organisms, and how humans impacted those aspects. I grew up reading many encyclopedias about environmental science and my curiosity drew me to explore aspects of my environment like my garden and the park to find insects to make connections between these two worlds. 

My first encounter studying science apart from my own personal research was in kindergarten, and my memory of that encounter is faint. However, I will never forget my project studying the life cycle of the mealworm in second grade. We each were given a small container to fill with about 2 tablespoons of cornmeal, with a small mealworm to place inside and we had the responsibility of using a dropper to moisten the surface once a week. The goal of this project was to track the stages of the mealworm and hopefully catch the moment when it is in the pupa stage  before it evolves into a darkling beetle. Another memory of science was when I began to explore forms of social science within AP Psychology, and that showed me a different form of studying the world and how individuals themselves within the world. Nearly all of my teachers within my four years of high school had a background in Psychology so I was truly able to grasp an understanding of this practice of science from professionals. From the curiosity of a child, to a refined mind of a young adult I had the desire to fuse the two practices of science and do something proactive regarding it.

Naturally I was drawn to environmental science because of organisms that we can find in our backyards and the effects humans have on wildlife and plants. However, I have always loved the human mind and pondering the nature versus nurture argument. Due to these two interests I wanted to work closely with people on a team and have the opportunity to educate individuals about the importance of environmental science; prompting me to join the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance as an event planner. I knew this internship would fulfill my desires but I did not realize how big of an impact I would make on my community. Through this internship I helped organize and participate in a dune planting in Arverne east, a tree planting, and traveled to the Netherlands to study Dutch infrastructure.

For the dune planting our team on the weekend collaborated among ourselves and families in the neighborhood to plant seagrasses along the coast. For the tree planting Shore Corps and Environmentor team used Arcgis to identify and plot native plants in the region. Then we planted seventy-five trees and two hundred natives species of plants along the beach. Both of these events would build a soft infrastructure to block homes from other storms like Superstorm Sandy.  Finally for the trip to the Netherlands we went to different firms to speak with designers and explored the city. 

The Dutch turned underutilized spaces and made them functional for coastal flooding and everyday use for civilians. All in all the sciences have impacted me greatly and my involvement with this internship allowed me to expand my horizons, by educating myself and others.

Sincerely,

Racquel Francis