I come from a religiously and politically conservative
community in West Texas, one that sometimes associates leftist views with
environmentalism. When I started college, I encountered scientific and liberal
ideology that contrasted heavily with the way I was raised. These two, science
and religion, were equally assertive and starkly opposing views. They pushed me
in opposite directions. To overcome this ideological conflict, I began seeking
a way to uncover commonalities between these seemingly disparate parties. I see
similar consensus building as my future career – a role that takes the shape of
environmental economics – where I can be a conduit between polarized groups, my
way of seeking the equilibrium of human luxury and environmental protection.
As an undergraduate, I look to several different mediums to
amalgamate my seemingly mutually exclusive interests. In the summer of 2014, I
was able to truly combine my environmental studies and economics backgrounds by
my participation in an Applied Economics Field School in Zimbabwe, and in the
spring of 2015, I was able to spend the semester studying through School for
Field Studies' Coastal and Marine Resource Studies program in the Turks and
Caicos Islands. Through these experiences, I've been able to further articulate
my worldview that, for quite some time, was convoluted to me.
Watching a White Rhino in Matopos, Zimbabwe
Being silly in front of the world's widest waterfall, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Socializing with kiddos from the primary school in Limpopo, Zimbabwe
A photograph with a hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, with Christina after night turtling in South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
Scuba diving at The Spanish Chain, South Caicos, TCI
The extraordinary sunsets of TCI.
With this blog, I hope to bring my opinions and ideas to
fruition and share environmental news with a large audience. I've learned the hard way that having mass communications experience is important in being a competitive candidate for internships.
The title, Musings of a Hippie Economist, is merely a cute way to express the uniqueness of my position. By no means am I interested in labeling myself as a certain type of human being, but I am fond of ways to extend a notion of who I am through humor. My blog, whether revered or dismissed, is a representation of who I am and is a place to share current events and things I learn. I appreciate your support in my endeavor of starting my first blog!
The title, Musings of a Hippie Economist, is merely a cute way to express the uniqueness of my position. By no means am I interested in labeling myself as a certain type of human being, but I am fond of ways to extend a notion of who I am through humor. My blog, whether revered or dismissed, is a representation of who I am and is a place to share current events and things I learn. I appreciate your support in my endeavor of starting my first blog!