Festival of Hope was this week, and every senior at Eckerd knows that this event marks the end of fall semester for us. Quest for Meaning gets a bad rap sometimes for being just another “required class,” but I am not ashamed to say I actually got something out of it. Volunteering at Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary was challenging logistically and otherwise, but it was a great experience to work with the birds and get to know the fantastic people who make the organization run, day by day. 

My main volunteer responsibilities included a lot of “dirty work,” but I actually really enjoyed it. Each Saturday my friend and I would get up early to arrive by 8am and begin cleaning shorebird and wading bird enclosures, preparing food for the birds (lots of fish, dietary pellets, and ground beef), and generally observing their behavior and health conditions. It was fun to get to know the different personalities of the birds — those who would put their heads down to be scratched, or follow you around in the enclosure, or run around peeping when you come in with food. 

All in all, it was a satisfying way to carry out my final fall semester of college. 

Today I filled out my Application for Degree. It struck me that the only thing that stands between me and graduation at this point is that blue sheet of paper and 5 classes. Eek!  I anticipate that next semester will be by far my most difficult yet. 

Winter Term should be fun, since I’m heading to Roatan to study tropical marine environments, but after that I start an overly-full load of 5 classes: GIS for Environmental Studies, Environmental Film Colloquium, Intro to Primate Studies, Environmental Studies Comprehensive Exams, and Anthropology Comprehensive Exams. Overachiever? Perhaps. Wanting to get the most out of my last semester? Most definitely. Scared out of my mind? You betcha. 

But so it goes. Good luck to everyone on final’s week, and hope you have a fantastic winter break, and happy holidays, wherever you are!