First Month Reflection

     This post is simply a reflection of how I have viewed the first few weeks of this class. So far this semester I have had a great time pursuing the field of study I am most passionate about. Having the opportunity to either do research or observation certainly does not feel as something I have to do rather something I get to do. It is great to be able to get outside of the city and relax on days that I do observation. Overall I see this course as a great opportunity for any student to expand on the subjects that they enjoy, which has certainly been the case for myself so far. The biggest roadblock that I have encountered to this point has been weather. I really have no desire to sit in sub-zero temperatures for any number of hours or if the road conditions are bad that also causes difficulties. I think the part of this project that surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed the photography aspect. I have found the challenge of relaying the images that I see on a daily basis to the readers of this blog a lot of fun. What I think will benefit myself the most in completing this course will be my note-taking/observation skills and my writing skills. I have never spent so much time in the woods for the sole purpose of looking for anything that stands out and then jotting down quick notes simultaneously. I also have never down any sort of blogging as I am right now. This writing technique is completely foreign to me but I am sure I can learn from the experience if nothing else. All in all I am extremely excited to see how the semester progresses, how the research flows together with my observations, and how I can grow from the experience as a whole.