ABOUT ME

I am an athletic, driven and hard working 25 year old that doesn't stop trying to improve my surroundings. I strive to maintain an open mind and see the world for what is is versus how I fit into it. At times I like to be in control, but more often I enjoy just watching and listening to what others have to say. My biggest fallacy is that I am impatient about waiting. I like to be on the move or in the process of something.

Interests

I find myself wondering about how people interact with their environments. On any given day you could catch me tending my organic garden, frolicking in the woods in search of fungi, teaching kids environmental sciences, or at a film festival. Learning new things is the ultimate passion. I am currently interested in mycoremediation, or how fungi can solve problems ranging from water filtration, heavy metal removal, hydrocarbon neutralization, forest recovery, farm waste, all while providing a source of food. I am also working on exploring the feasibility of aquaponics, or the cultivation of fish and plants within a near closed loop system.

• fish
• culture
• festivals
• dining
• walking
• gardening
• traveling
• fishing
• backpacking
• volleyball
• dialects

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Culture Shock- In 2005 I travelled to Peru to sightsee and visit friends that live there. I had little understanding of spanish or local dialects, and I was thrust into decoding a new culture. I found myself walking along a river near a remote town high up in the Andes when I stumbled into two locals which ended up befriending me. The rest of the day and night was full of laughs, awkward moments, and the full spectrum of emotions. I played volleyball with dozens of local kids and adults, prepared and ate meals in the local custom and spent the evening sharing stories and smiles with new friends. This was the first time in my life I entrusted complete strangers with my sense of being and let down my ego. I grew up that day and reflect upon the experience often. Ever since, I have had the itch to travel the world and leave myself at the mercy of other great people.

Self Reflection- My sister and I had just endured a month of backpacking through the hustle of Western Europe and we found ourselves overlooking the quiet Mediterranean Sea while high atop a sheer cliff. The sun began to fade behind small homes attached to the side of the cliff's walls. On an island of only a few thousand nearly isolated people, I found myself in a complete state of bliss while wishing I could too live in a one of those simple homes. A more simple life where people entertained on their front stoops, hiding from nobody and embracing their neighbors. Rich scents of local cuisine and near constant cries of laughter came from these homes. The people of this island most always carried a smile and seemed as if they had not one worry. I realized then, while atop the cliff, that a slower pace of life was the pulse of a strong community and the opposite leeds to the development of an individual. I needed to begin fostering relationships as if they were to last forever instead of constantly searching for what is next for me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States