Some insight into who I am…

I like to be active and outdoors

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that a want-to-be field geologist likes being outdoors, but thought I would share what exactly I like to do outside besides look at rocks.

There’s also the irony that my studies of our natural environments keep me from being outdoors as much as I wish. There are many days I’m bogged down by work, classes, research, or even the Texas summer heat - all of which may prevent me from leaving my apartment. Nevertheless, I’m usually thinking of being outdoors when I’m inside and as soon as I have the free-time, I’m eager to be active.

On a weekly basis, I like to walk with my roommate and her dog, Stella (see below), who we adopted together: you can call it co-parenting. I also like to fossil hunt along Shoal Creek Greenbelt near my residence which has exposed Lower Cretaceous fossiliferous limestones of the Austin Group; I’ve found a couple ammonites in the creek-bed!

I’ve been a tennis player and runner for most of my life. I also like to play soccer, frisbee, and golf, occasionally. More recently, I’ve become an avid road cyclist and trail rider. I hope to get back into swimming soon so I can train for a triathlon!

I love animals

I’ve had several dogs, fish, turtles, and geckos as pets throughout my life!

While in high school, after visiting my local county animal shelter with some friends, I realized the shelter was in desperate need of volunteers and community support. A peer and I started the Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS) Club at our high school our junior year. We had up to around 50 active members making us one of the largest non-academic clubs at our school. Our members volunteered at MCAS by walking dogs, playing with cats, bathing dogs, doing laundry, taking pictures for the shelter website, and stacking bags of food. Our members also participated in off-site adoptions, shelter fundraisers, and other events put on by the shelter’s partner organizations.

During the first year, our club hosted winter and spring fundraisers which raised $800 for the shelter. We also worked with our school’s improv troupe, which raised over $2,000 for the shelter by selling tickets to their show. In the fall of senior year, we co-hosted a community-wide fundraiser with Operation Pets Alive, a non-profit transfers animals to places where they are adopted more readily to prevent euthanization. We presented our idea to our community’s board of commerce and found sponsorship from local businesses. We even started a GoFundMe where we received $600 to fund our event. The fundraiser included activities such as relay races, face painting, and bubble soccer. There was also a DJ, food truck, and silent auction. Overall, the fundraiser was a success, we raised close to $3,000 for Operation Pets Alive!

#OptToAdopt #AmericanPetsAlive