I am fortunate to have grown up in a home and place that cultivated a very curious and inquisitive mind. I grew up on an animal farm. My family owned a variety of animals from horses, pigs, and cows to goats, chickens, and ducks. I learned the ins and out of caring for these animals, as well as loving them! Surrounding our land we have mountains and small creeks that wind their way to the Delaware River. My town is actually nestled along this river, so my summers consisted of kayaking, tubing, and rafting down the river. As a child, more often than not you could find me outside rolling over logs and rocks in search of salamanders, centipedes or any moving thing hidden beneath. I was also always in the creek catching frogs, tadpoles, crayfish and essentially anything that was living in the water. As I grew older, I continued to have a keen interest in my environment and the outdoors. I continued to explore my surroundings; venturing outside the comfort of my back yard and exploring nature in the Hudson Valley. Surprisingly, my interest in science class never really peeked until I reached high school. 
High school was the first time I experienced real experimentation. We were allowed to explore these different concepts through hands-on experimentation. This is when I began to fully understand the type of learner I am. I discovered that I am a kinesthetic and tactile learner; I learn best by doing. Throughout high school, the science lab was the one class I looked forward to the most. In fact, it was through a college biology course I took in high school that encouraged me to study science during my undergraduate degree. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. I was initially drawn to this college for the sheer fact that it was nestled among the mountains in the Hudson Valley along the Hudson River. The proximity to nature, the mountains and the endless possibilities of adventure were enticing and shared a resemblance to home. Although my major changed a plethora of times during college, my love and interest in science was and is still strong.
Overall, I think the experiences as a child were the catalyst for my strong interest in science, nature and the environment!
