As a seasoned strategist, attending college was a carefully formulated plan. Classes, dates, times; all written in permanent ink to set a determined path.
It is comical, reminiscing about my youth, that I once believed I had to follow a designated route to succeed in the pursuit of education. Life now is more like hastily scribbled notes on a whiteboard; there to be edited, revised, and improved. The four year journey towards my degree taught me that even the most well formulated plan is laced with choices and opportunities. These choices design paths that one would have never thought to examine. My choices and these paths and are how I earned my Bachelors of Science degree from the Department of Biology at Keene State College.
A fascination for science drew me back to the education system. At this point in time, I sat behind a computer desk logging an inventory of stamps. This position was a wonderful professional experience to learn about geography and history, but I was continuously left wanting more. My mind would often wonder to the possible accomplishments which I could achieve if I attended college. These thoughts coupled with my interest in nutrition and my own personal health push me to research how to become a Registered Dietitian.
Keene State College was the perfect choice for this degree option. It was close to my hometown, parents, and job. Little did I know, it was also the perfect school to open up a number of opportunities for student involvement. A year into my plan to become a Registered Dietitian, a huge shift in interests arose after taking my required general chemistry class. The professor provoked an adoration for chemistry in an individual whom hated chemistry in high school. The same professor suggested that I become associates with other professors doing research in the chemistry department. By taking his advice, I was able to work under Dr. Anderson the summer of my freshman year, which you can read more about here.
The first semester of my sophomore year was filled with chemistry and biology courses. During this semester, another opportunity came up for a reef monitoring and education program in the biology department. Professors, Dr. Cangialosi and Dr. Strong, were looking for a student to accompany them to Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I was never allowed to travel grow up due to protective parents, so I thought, why not give it a shot. I had tutoring experience and experience in a chemistry lab, and a GPA to show my dedication, so why not. To my amazement I was chosen. You can read more about my experience here. There were numerous lessons learned from this awe-inspiring experience, but the most important is that this was the opportunity that lead me to my career path today. My love for the ocean expanded exponentially after being submerged, literally, in the marine ecosystem. I hungered to gain knowledge on these underwater invertebrates, how humans are effecting their communities and populations, and what is happening to ocean chemistry. Ultimately, I strive to learn how I can help in the education and conservation of these beautiful and essential underwater habitats.
My Interests
Jessica Comeau 