I was born and raised around Hardeeville, SC, where I lived with my mom and two older brothers. It is a relatively small town where I spent most of my time in school or hanging out with a group of very close friends (I still have today). When I’m outdoors, I enjoy taking photos of wildlife and the environment around me a great deal. When I was growing up, I spent a lot of my time exploring the woods with my dogs. I always wanted to see what new animal I would stumble across that day. I’d search under logs, in creeks, or the deepest parts of the woods and always feel a sense of ease/excitement.
The majority of my time in the Air Force was spent as a military working dog handler. The job was very rewarding and gave me a sense of fulfillment. It is a blessing that I can say I enjoyed the people I worked with just as my K9 counterparts. I enjoyed that the job had a sense of importance while also never growing completely stale. One moment you’re being sent to a U.S. Embassy to make sure it’s clear of potential threats, and the next conducting search & rescue practice drills through the woods. Being a Military Policeman/K9 handler gave me many credits towards criminal justice after my nine years of service. After high school, most of my education has gone to that, and a small portion went towards a degree in nursing (which I am not currently pursuing).
I decided to be a VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern because I wanted to confirm that I should pursue a forestry career. I’m excited about this internship for a plethora of reasons. I am excited for the opportunity not to be stuck in an office every day (even if there are exceptions to the rule). I’m anxious to meet new people and be taught things I never would’ve otherwise. I’m excited about the opportunity to get hands-on training while dipping my toes into forestry. I like the idea of having knowledgeable mentors to teach me the ins and out’s of their job. I’m excited about the position because it is something new, and I feel like people grow the most when they are out of their comfort zone. This internship will help me become a complete person and hopefully more valuable if I decide to take up forestry.