Hi everyone! I’m Jess, an out of state student going into my second year at CU Boulder, studying ecology and evolutionary biology. Coming from San Francisco, it was quite the transition leaving my home state and saying goodbye to the ocean. After my first time visiting Boulder, I was drawn in by the vibrant campus, beautiful outdoor space, and bustling town. My first year here was well spent, as I built roots in campus life, student organizations, and connected with faculty with plans to begin undergraduate research. I’m excited to call Boulder my home, and it would bring me joy to help others decide if it is right for them as well.

Hometown

San Francisco California

Major(s)

Ecology and evolutionary biology

Minor(s)

Geography

Clubs, organizations & involvement

On That Note Acapella, Spectrum LLC, Lambert Lab

Describe your college experience

I was very excited to go to college, mostly looking forward to complete independence over my time, exploring new classes, meeting new people, and taking advantage of all the opportunities to come. Of course I dealt with the typical anxieties such as finding a roommate, dorm living, handling stress, overcoming loneliness and social anxiety, and building a new home. I knew college meant having to step outside of my comfort zone and take those leaps, and I am proud of myself for getting to where I am now.

Tip for future students

Some things I wish I could have told my younger self before coming to CU would be : 1. You will meet many people so quickly, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but just take a deep breath and remember, even if you don’t become close buddies with everyone you met day one, by talking to strangers and saying hello, a couple special people are likely to come out of it. 2. Start light with classes and responsibilities to learn your tolerance. It’s better to feel like you can put more on your plate than feel like everything is crashing down. You don’t need to be taking 18+ credit hours to be a good student. Focus on what interests you, and go from there. 3. Don’t sign up for a class just to skip it every time. You are investing money into your future, and what’s the point of it all if you don’t show up. Show up for your future self and you won’t regret it! You can get the fun out of college in addition to the fantastic education. Plus, there are some really cool classes at CU! 4. Explore the area! You are in a gorgeous town with towering mountains in walking distance, take advantage of that! There are so many great things to do in the area, and it’s a great way to make friends by simply inviting people out to explore. I have so much more to share, but I’d go on forever! :)

Favorite class

My favorite class so far would either be genetics, ethics, or dogs wolves and humans. But honestly, every class I’ve taken has been life changing in some way. Genetics was my first deep dive into how life works, and it gave me a new perspective on what it means to be a living breathing thing, and our connection to all other life. Ethics taught me to think critically about why we feel love, hate, pain, and connection. And my dogs wolves and humans class gave me 2.5 hours a week of hearing an esteemed professor discuss why my 4 dogs are so amazing (haha this is a simplification, the class was a fantastic lecture on the co-evolution of humans and dogs). By signing up for what sparked my curiosity, I have grown as a person within one year of being here.

Career goals

My future is becoming clearer as time goes on, but right now my goal is to become a researcher in the field of wildlife biology and conservation. I’m getting involved in a lab that researches endangered mammals, and my life long goal is to help endangered wildlife thrive and recover in the face of manmade threats. It’s either save the world or watch it slowly fall apart, and I’d love to be part of the effort to save this beautiful planet.

Ideal way to spend a free night

Honestly, I’m pretty introverted, so if I have had a busy week my favorite way to spend a free night is to cook a fantastic meal, take a long shower, and cozy up with a favorite show or game (shoutout to red dead redemption 2). But I will also be down for a spontaneous trip into the mountains to take awesome pictures of the stars.

High school or secondary school

Tam High! In Mill Valley, California.

Previous college

N​/​A