Science students at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals learn more than just academic material
Real-world professional skills and internship opportunities are part of the program
Science students at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals learn more than just academic material
Gries a part-time naturalist aide at Hueston Woods is working with Adena the red-tailed hawk.
Gries a part-time naturalist aide at Hueston Woods is working with Adena the red-tailed hawk.
With a passion for the outdoors, Skylar Gries knew he wanted to earn a degree in a field that would bring him into regular contact with the natural world. He found the path that fit his passion in at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University Regionals. But this still left him with some questions about what his future career might look like.
Thanks to a unique opportunity at the Regionals, however, Gries, who will graduate in the spring, was able to explore career prospects and even secure an internship that led to the job of his dreams as a naturalist aide with .
As part of Gries’ coursework in Applied Biology, a seminar course () helps students explore career prospects and learn practical skills that will help them find a job in an environmental field. Through the course, Gries met an official with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and learned about an internship at Cowan Lake State Park. He was encouraged to apply and, ultimately, was offered the job, which he completed over the summer.
“I don’t think I would have found the internship with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources if it weren’t for this course at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú,” Gries said. “This really changed everything for me.”
Like many college students, Gries said he wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to do after he graduated. ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s seminar () course allowed him to meet working professionals in his field, learn more about career opportunities, and gain valuable skills to use in finding and securing a job, such as resume writing and interviewing.
“Prior to this course, I had no thoughts of professional development,” Gries said. “Once I was in the class, though, I realized it was exactly what I needed. I made so many valuable connections. I didn’t know how to look for internships. I had just been doing (outdoor) maintenance work before this. If I hadn’t met the (ODNR official), I don’t think I would have ever found that job.”
Gries said the experience as a naturalist intern allowed him to grow professionally in ways he didn’t expect.
“I never thought of myself as a people person,” he said. “But after leading visitors on nature tours in the park, I found I love working with people. I would have never thought of outdoor education as my future until I had this internship. Now, I think I may have found my career through this one internship.”
Biological Sciences assistant professor Jennifer Schumacher said professional development opportunities such as ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s seminar course are a unique feature at the Regionals.
“The goal at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals is to go beyond biology classes and give students the professional skills they need to succeed,” she said. “This really sets our program apart. Students learn about resume writing, searching for a job, interviewing skills, oral presentation skills, and grad school information all in one place. We also have an internship panel with at least three panelists that provide connections to various internships. This gives students the chance to meet these important professionals in a relaxed setting and gives them a boost of confidence when it comes to applying for internships.
“Skylar was very proactive about career planning, and it helped him to land the job as a naturalist intern at Cowan Lake,” she said. “It’s one of only a small number of internships offered by ODNR every summer.”
As he prepares to start a new job as a part-time naturalist aide at Hueston Woods this fall, which he hopes to make a full-time job after graduation, Gries said he would probably not be where he is today if it weren’t for the opportunities he found at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú.
“I feel like I’m well prepared now for my future,” he said. “One of the reasons I went to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú was to grow as a student and a person. I feel like I’ve achieved that.”
