Photo courtesy of Natalie Gabriel.
Now that I have graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill (with a BS in Environmental Science, minor in Statistics), I wanted to say a big thank you. The Marilyn and William Lester Scholarship has been so incredibly helpful to me and I am very grateful. I am lucky to graduate debt-free knowing that I took full take advantage of my time at UNC.
During my time at UNC, I was able to study for a summer in Munich, Germany, take a coral reef ecology class that included a spring break snorkeling trip, study abroad in Bangkok, Thailand, do research on electric buses (that is now published), take a wide range of classes specific to my interests, do unpaid and paid internships, explore my passions, and much more. All of my traveling experiences have broadened my perspective, forced me to adapt, and contributed to the person I am today. My academic experiences have changed and improved how I think and attempt to solve problems. The list continues on with all of the things I am thankful for being able to have experienced at UNC. I am especially thankful that they all led me to my first full-time position as an Associate for Sustainable Finance and ESG at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Munich, Germany. In this position, I will be able to pursue my passion for the environment while challenging myself with life abroad. I am very excited for my next adventures and so grateful for the assistance and support that this scholarship has given me.