Marine Science Personal Statement

I am a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marine Science. I am proud to say that I had been recognized for my senior paper above all my classmates, as I received the Outstanding Thesis in Marine Science Award. During my undergraduate career, I have gained knowledge and experience through classwork, laboratories, and the field. Next, I wish to enter Colorado State University’s online masters program in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.
The Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Masters ties together all of my interest, and would give me the opportunity to further my passion with the tools and knowledge. I have also had a passion for the ocean, and as I got older the need for conservation has proved to be such a crucial need. I also found that I find conservation work to be exciting and satisfying. I have

worked hard during my undergraduate studies to further my understanding of these subjects, and I enjoyed the process. I want to study under the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology program at Colorado State University so that I can further investigate and contribute to the understanding of the environment and it’s species. My specific interests include fisheries, coastal management, and natural resource conservation.
I have participated in conservation and environmental management programs and internships since my senior year of high school and continued during my summer breaks during my undergrad.

I started with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as an intern (2010-2011), where I participated in their “train the trainer” program as both trainer and trainee. During this program TNC teaches communities how to form a community managed area and gives them the tools and knowledge to do so. I participated as a trainee since I was a co-founder of this community group, and also as a trainer since TNC had me lead one of the projects. I also did an internship with AmeriCorps (summer 2013) on various conservation projects. In the summer of 2014 I was a joint inter for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative doing a variety of projects in the office and in the field. This internship also allowed me to work with many other organizations such as the National Resources Conservation Service, and the Department of Aquatic Resources. Today, I still work with my community-managed area when

possible.
My senior research project was a literature review on Midway Atoll, which is now a protected wildlife sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The review was on the use of public access on Midway, as a tourism industry was trying to operate on this important atoll. My project consisted of a semester o research through government and scientific documents. The importance of this project was to show that there was no need for tourism on this atoll, and that the environment needed protection and that the current conservation efforts on the island should continue.
My ultimate goal is to work in conservation in Hawaiʻi with the focus on the marine environment, and help others understand the importance of conservation practices.