5-23-11

So this is my last in office day at the NRCS since everything is due the next week and I will spend my time working on the analytical paper and such. Today was definitely one of those final day feels, where guidance and support is given. I did some help with Farm Bill applications, but most of the time was spent talking about my future, how to utilize what I had learned and what jobs I am looking for. Rich really wanted to make sure I didn't have any questions about the process of the NRCS and what I was qualified to do. There is a position open in the Petaluma office doing a similar position to what I was doing as an intern with a bit more responsibility so Rich helped me go through and answer the 31 questions I have to answer to describe the level of my experience. I know I learned a lot at this internship, but I definitely don't want to overestimate my skills. Almost all the work I did had to have some review by Rich because I was only an intern, but in theory I could have done it without review. After hearing his opinion on my skills it made me feel like I not only learned a lot in these 6 months, but I also contributed to the NRCS. I think its great to know that my name will be in some applications and on some conservation plans and maps. It allows me to take pride in the work I had done there. Knowing what my skills are also allows me to consider other positions. While I really enjoyed my time at the NRCS and working in land management, I think in the future I would like to be international or work on a larger scale. I also have a big interest in getting involved in ocean policy. Overall, I think I would really enjoy working for the NRCS for a couple of years to get more experience but maybe not in a location strongly focused in farming. Its incredible to realize how much I learned about erosion, and crops, considering how very anti-agriculture I was when I first began this major. I was positive that I was going to do only policy and avoid being in the field. This internship combined with my course taken in New Zealand made me realize how fun it can be to be in the field, but more importantly, how being in the field and seeing the actual problem makes you a better policy person. I thinks this has been an invaluable experience in the actual skills in the field and in the office that I have learned.