Towards the end of my sophomore fall semester, I was searching for a summer opportunity. At the time, I was interested in human health but a biology professor I talked with frequently asked if I would be interested in doing summer research with birds for someone she knew in California. I decided to contact that person in California, a PhD candidate at UC Davis named Jessica Schaefer, to apply for the research position.

Jessica was conducting research on the reproductive behavior of Spotted Sandpipers (Spotties) and how it related to ecological factors. She monitored Spotted Sandpiper behaviors including tracking incubation behavior, locating nests and catching adults and chicks. Jessica had 1-2 research assistants to help her with this field work near Mono Lake, California. This work included getting up at 5 AM to walk miles through sandy terrain, sitting still for hours observing Spotties while mosquitoes swarm around you, wading through frigid cold water and capturing chicks as their parents flew right above you. Sounds amazing right?

For nature-lovers, I’m sure this was a dream come true but for me….

I never scheduled classes before 9:30 AM, I despised mosquitos and I appreciated nature from a distance. Thus, when I got offered the position, I was excited yet nervous.

But if there’s something I learned from being at Swarthmore, it’s facing a challenge head on and making room for new experiences. 

So I accepted the offer and it completely changed my life. 

It was a steep learning curve quite literally. Mono Lake is approximately 6000 feet above elevation so I had to adjust to that while climbing up and back down sandy hills. 

I learned how to use binoculars that the Swarthmore Biology department lent to me and how to set up a mist net to safely capture birds. I tried so many new foods such as a green bean casserole, roasted brussel sprouts and the most amazing veggie burgers. I even caught a chick for the first time. 

Outside of field work, I experienced so much. I was able to meet other graduate researchers (animal behaviorists are the coolest people ever) and climb the second highest mountain in Yosemite National Park. I visited UC Davis for the first time and discovered a love for conservation and observing animals. 

Being at a liberal arts college, specifically at Swarthmore, means you can explore and figure out your interests even if they’re polar opposites. Swarthmore offers many different avenues to try new things whether that’s through clubs, classes or research opportunities. You also aren’t limited to the school year and can continue exploring during the summer. I was able to watch birds my sophomore summer due to receiving funding from Swarthmore College after filling out an application. This encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and try new things because I could. Without the financial support from Swarthmore, I would not have been able to learn about this world of animal behavior and experience a new type of biological research. 

The professors I’ve had at Swarthmore also play a huge role in supporting a student’s interests. They care about their students and want to see them succeed, even if it’s not in their own field. Going to office hours, participating in class and asking questions are ways to create a strong mentoring relationship between a student and professor. If I had never gotten to know the biology professor who introduced me to this opportunity, I never would have discovered my love for conservation and animal conservation. 

Swarthmore offers many chances for students to grow professionally and personally. Research is just one of the ways to explore potential interests.