My First Internship

Blog Post By: Amanda Csipak

I remember getting an email that confirmed that I had been chosen for the sea turtle internship this summer and I could not be more excited! Only a few days after finals were over my parents and I made the 12 hour drive down from New Jersey and I was not sure exactly what this summer was going to have in store for me. Although I was a bit nervous, once I had arrived I was so pleased to find out how welcoming everyone was which made me feel much more comfortable. The morning after I arrived I was able to go on patrol with Leah and since then I have been hooked on sea turtle conservation. I have learned a great deal of information during my time here and I am very grateful for all of the hands on experience I was able to gain. I was also able to improve my public speaking skills as I was given the opportunity to give the presentation for the night walks. Having Leah there to guide me through it all and teach me so much about the Loggerhead Sea turtle made giving the presentation much easier. I have been inspired by not only Leah but also all of the volunteers that help with the sea turtles on the state park beach. Everyone's dedication to the turtles is incredible and it was a pleasure being able to work with such motivated and knowledgeable people. Leah does an amazing job as the sea turtle specialist and I feel very lucky to have been able to work along side her and learn so much. This internship has allowed me to grow in many ways and it has exceeded any of the expectations that I had coming in this summer. Waking up at dawn to look for turtle nests, assisting on night walks and conducting nest inventories has truly been a privilege that I am so happy to have had. I can honestly say that this has been the best summer I have ever had and my motivation to pursue my degree in Conservation and Wildlife Management has only grown greater. I look forward to being able to work with others that share my passion to conserve our beautiful endangered species.