A simple joy, a simple purpose. by Aiver
December 27, 2024
Open gallery
Author: Aiver Ford
Fall 2024 Sustainability Team Cohort
Major: General Studies
Graduation Date: Spring 2025
My time as a Land Stewardship intern has been such a fulfilling experience that it made me seriously rethink what I should do next professionally. Prior to this experience, I was passionate about gardening and agriculture, and I just wanted to do something I would enjoy this semester. No one I know gardens, let alone has a career anywhere near plants. I…honestly didn’t think I could. But after seeing the work already being done by people my age who look like me so passionately, it made me think that they could do it, and that made me wonder that maybe I could do something meaningful with plants too. I know the word representation sounds a little bloodless and clinical to the modern brainrotted ear, but it really did mean the world to me to see people who also loved these things I love.
I did so many things through my internship that I wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise, just trying to learn as much as possible and help wherever I could, and I certainly did. I played a big hand in cleaning, building, and essentially revitalizing the Reproductive Justice Garden on campus (a labor of love, ty Meilani!), I helped clear out a new entrance for the Alumni Woods, participating in the 2nd annual BioBlitz was so fun, there was extensive caring for the Native Plant Garden, planting native trees and grasses, and I lead a forest tour so the next crop of freshman can meet and appreciate the forests! I also helped my other interns with their projects, like Jolie building a Trash Man completely comprised of litter she picked up in the forests on campus! I even had my own solo project of making a student survey about people’s opinions on littering in our campus forests.
The work I’ve done this semester has given me the tools and insights necessary to make the decisions necessary to move forward as an adult. I really feel like I can do anything, as cheesy as it sounds, all of the stuff I’ve done to make people’s lives better and get my hands in the dirt has given me such joy that I’ve never felt before. As I continue on my professional journey, I will carry with me the knowledge that I did good and did good things here, and I feel capable of doing big things now because of everyone I touched through this internship which gave me purpose and helped me take my passion seriously.
