SmartBScN.ca: Biography

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Spending time outdoors has always been a passion of mine. This has throughout the years equated to many hikes, camping trips, and participation in Scouts Canada. This passion is also what lead me to enroll in the Natural Resources Conservation program and the University of British Columbia. To learn about and to ultimately work in and for the environment is something that excites me, especially when I live in one of the most beautiful provinces in Canada.

The last four years at UBC, and six years of post secondary school has shaped me into not only a person with a high theoretical knowledge, but with an equivalent amount of field experience. I not only know what it takes to design a study, but have also designed a study and carried through the steps of data collection, statistical analysis and writing.

I like to consider myself an outdoor enthusiast. Given the opportunity I would much rather be doing anything outdoors. Outdoor recreation is something that I believe everyone should experience, whether its camping at a provincial park in a RV or hiking to a remote location. There much to say for getting ouside of the urban centre and experiencing nature, experiencing the awesome beauty that is the natural world.

Ensuring that the opportunity exists for people is important. That's where I think a conservation takes into effect. Let's face it, as a country and a province we are growing. How hard will we exploit the resources? Now, I'm not advocating stopping all development, that would be narrow-minded and down-right obsurd, but I am saying that we need to reevaluate the way that we do business and manage our resources. It's time that we become true stewards of the environment and not just seeing the forest (or grassland, or ocean) for all the green.

Recipient of the Interior Logging Association's graduating student scholarship, $1,000 - September 2005
Pensacola Junior College athletic scholarship, $15,000+ USD - August 2000
Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Anaheim Angels 15th round, 440th overall - June 2000
30 man roster, Canadian Junior National baseball Team

Monashee Provincial Park: Big Peters Lake, Mount Fosthall summit, 2679m.
Cathedrals Provincial Park: Lake of the Woods, High Rim trail.
Wells Grey Provincial Park: Battle Mountain.
US States visited: Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Oregon, California, and Washington.
Canada Provinces visited: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
Overseas: Ecuador.

While currently my focus is to take some time away from the classroom and maybe pay off some of my student debt, I am interested in either becoming a Registered Professional Biologist (R.P.Bio) or continuing my education and obtaining a Master's (M. Sc.) in grassland ecology.