As I now sit in my desk at home, I reflect back on the experience that I had while participating in the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ) in Nicaragua. It was all a great learning experience that I would not change anything about. I am extremely proud of myself for going through with something that was completely unknown to me and for persevering during those times when things became difficult. There were two things that I found to be the most difficult during this FBQ. The first being having to come up with a question, a project idea, and proper methodology to answer the question we worked so hard to ask. This process was one that definitely caught me by surprise. I was not expecting it to be as difficult as it was and it was probably the most eye opening part of this FBQ. The second was the distance. Being apart from friends and family with no form of communication was difficult. Although there were times when I appreciated the time alone, I learned to not take for granted the company of the people you care and love. These difficult moments were also my favorite moments because they allowed me to view things differently and they provided me with a new perspective.

From this FBQ, I had hoped to participate in an experience that would show me exactly what field research would be like and every small detail that went along with it. I feel as though this program met all of my expectations and provided me with a realistic experience of what being a field biologist entails. It will allow me to better make decisions about the potential career(s) I would like to pursue. It has also provided me with a stronger foundation and renewed mindset of what I truly find interesting and what I can see myself doing for the rest of my life. I am still undecided, but I am confident that this experience will play a significant role in my decision making process. I truly do appreciate having been given the opportunity to participate in the 2015 Field Biology Quarter in Nicaragua and I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Dr. Greg Grether, Dr. Debra Shier, Rachel Chock, and Adrea Gonzalez-Karlsson for their guidance and immense support throughout this learning process.