For my anchor course, I took Field Studies in Natural Resources in the form of a study abroad in Australia. The study abroad program focused mainly on the topics of global health and nutrition of both indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, as well as the health of ecosystems in Australia such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. What I really loved about this trip was that the course emphasized the interconnectedness of many different ecosystems on the earth and how they all impact each other. It was For example, we learned how mangroves, coral reefs, and rainforests are fundamentally interwoven: the mangroves protect young reef fish and filter runoff from the reef; the reef protects mangroves and coastal cities from waves and cyclones; the condensation from the reefs produce a rain cloud that provides rain for the forest.
Additionally, because it was a study abroad I was given the opportunity to leave the traditional classroom setting and go on physical excursions in Australia, which enabled me to feel much more connected to nature. I was familiar with many concepts introduced in this class from other ecology courses, which not only allowed me to extend the knowledge I already had but also be able to focus on application and deeper understanding of ecological principles as I saw them occurring firsthand (for example, forest fragmentation).
I also really loved this trip because I think it made many people on the trip who were not familiar with issues of sustainability more connected and I got to watch the growth of my peers as they immersed themselves in the environment. I feel that the trip allowed me and my peers to more fully acknowledge, as we learned about connectivity, that we as individuals have an impact on our environments, and that our actions can have wide reaching consequences even on the other side of the planet. Going on this trip made me think I might want to do more hands-on work in my future career, perhaps exploring more observational real-world research having to do with effects of immersion in nature.
Snorkeling and measuring fish biodiversity at the Great Barrier Reef 
Witnessing an endangered Cassowary at sunrise at Cape Tribulation, AU