A Community With No Borders

Transcript

I can’t wait for you to meet Soham, an international student from Mumbai, India. Soham came to UVM to study wildlife biology, be close to nature and find adventure. That adventure has led him into Green Mountain Forests and to Kenya’s grasslands. He’s applying extraordinary skills and vision to his studies. Take it away, Soham.

– Thank you for the introduction, Alex. Hello everybody. When I decided to study in the US the first thing I Googled was top wildlife biology colleges in the US. That’s how I discovered UVM and in fact, Vermont. I chose UVM not only because it had a great wildlife program, but also it gave me a sense of challenge and adventure I was longing for. Coming from Mumbai to Vermont has been an enriching and promising journey. From exploring UVM’s natural areas in my ecology labs, to skiing with my friends in the Green Mountains, I can picture my future self in the environmental field more clearly. A recent class in wildlife disease ecology opened up a new door for my interest in conservation and science communication. Then this past summer, I spent two months in Kenya’s Maasai Mara as a big cat and wildlife monitoring intern, contributing to data collection efforts focused on big cats and herbivore ecology in the conservancy. Through this internship, I’ve been able to explore my research interests as well as my innate passion for wildlife photography and art for science communication. My UVM professors have actively guided through my research interests as well as encouraged my creativity. Throughout UVM, the support I receive has made me a confident and ambitious leader in natural resources as well as the student community. Currently, I lead UVM’s International Student Club to help build global community, cultural awareness, and support my fellow international students. There are so many communities you can be part of here. And if you come to UVM, I can assure you one thing, you’ll always have the support. With UVMs dedicated environmental program and world class reputation, I think I’m set up for my next goal, to pursue an advanced degree in wildlife biology. With this preparation, I feel I can go anywhere. That’s my story. Back to you, Alex.

– Wow Soham, the world of experience you are getting is really preparing you to think and work on a global scale. We cannot wait to hear where you will go next. Take care.