“WHY I WANT TO BE A GEOLOGIST.”
will be necessary to word phrases delicately when discussing geohazards with the general public) and in daily interactions. I want to fight falsities with truth in an eloquent manner that achieves progress by overcoming stubborn barriers. To do so would alleviate these feelings of helplessness and aid in the more widespread acceptance of scientific truths. Though my own contributions may only reach a small pool of people, it is better than no one at all.
Next, I want to become a scientist so that my values align comprehensively with my actions. It is easy to claim you are an environmentalist, but it is less convenient to collect your glass and take it to the recycling facility. In short, what we claim to believe must align with what we do. By dedicating my career to geology, I’ll uphold the pillars of the scientific method. By dedicating my life to logic and truth, I’ll stand for facts. I’ll stand for what is right.
Lastly, I want to become a geoscientist to defend those things which do not have a human voice. My passion for the geosciences necessarily includes a love of the earth. It is a heartfelt appreciation and respect for nature that is akin to spirituality. Thus, the proposed regulations and changes to the agencies that protect our environment and our lands feel like a direct attack on this planetary body I hold so dearly. I want to become a geoscientist to help protect our earth. After all, we are the ones who have learned to read what the earth is saying. Is it not our duty to translate and defend?
In closing, these recent political and social changes are a call to action for those of us who act as stewards of the earth. In an age of alternative facts, fake news, and greed-based decisions, I feel compelled to determine objective truths and communicate them to others. I want to align my values with my actions in a large-scale manner, and I want to do everything in my power to protect this planet. I want to become a geoscientist.
Seth Sutton, SA-8035, Eastern Carolina University
“Good morning class. In this class, you will learn the discipline of verte- brate paleontology and I hope you are as excited to learn about this subject as I am to teach it”. The previous thirty-two words are what I’ll say to my students when I am a professor and the reason I want to be a geolo-
gist. Dinosaurs have been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. Dinosaur birthday parties, toys, blankets and everything in between was a sure-fire way to make my younger self giddy with joy. Then, when I learned to read, you could say I had the equivalent to a miniature Cambrian explosion as my interest in paleontology went from dinosaurs to almost every aspect of this field. Not only was I able to imagine past life and play with figurines, I could actually learn how these creatures who walked before me millions of years in the past could grow to such great heights or what they ate or even how they died out. From that point on there has never been a question in my mind on what I wanted to do and being able to publish research on dinosaurs is still my goal today.
Fast forward the microscopic blip of geologic time from my dinosaur loving six-year-old to the present-day junior at East Carolina University and the only difference is now I am a slightly taller but I still have my passion for dinosaurs. My collection of books on that subject has grown larger and there is also a fossil collection that has been added to my room. I shamelessly tote my Jurassic Park lunch box on campus as I match it with my shirt. I knew to pursue my passion I would need to study geology and I would need to learn the funda- mentals of life so I decided to dual major in both geology and biology. Learning about our planet’s history, such as that there actually have been several super-continents, and how organ- isms have changed just as much as our planet, fascinates me to no end. I have also been lucky enough to experience learn- ing outside of the classroom, working with my professor of micropaleontology. Floating foraminifera to concentrate them, may sound boring to the average person, but the moment I realized these microfossils were being used to recreate paleo-
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climates, I jumped at the opportunity. Working in the lab has taught me that there is so much that paleontology has to offer, whether it be paleoecology, biostratigraphy, or just vertebrate paleontology, but also how other geologic fields are used in paleontology. Even though this lab has given me so much experience and opportunity, the most exhilarating part of engaging in research will be partaking in my own field work and searching the world for dinosaur fossils.
In my time at East Carolina University, I have developed what I have deemed micro-passions. Geochemistry and structural geology have caught my eye and I am excited for my tectonics course next semester, which I am positive will develop into another micro passion. These micro passions show me that I am interested in almost every aspect of geology whether I’m learning about environmental geology or mineral- ogy. Even more exciting than learning about these interests of mine though is sharing them with the community. As the fundraising chair of our local chapter of the geology student honor society, Sigma Gamma Epsilon, I get to oversee fundrais- ers that not only help fund our chapter, but show the public that there is no such thing as a boring rock as each one has an amazing history behind it. Also, through my volunteering in our department, I get to nerd out with younger kids about fossils and rocks such as limbergrit. Watching kids’ faces light up in awe over bendable rocks and fossils that are Mesozoic in age is one of the greatest perks of being a geology major and why I jump at the opportunity to volunteer almost every time.
Next spring will be my final semester as an undergraduate and then I plan to go right into a PhD program in paleontology. Whichever program I end up in, whether it be here in the U.S or another country, the one item I will not leave behind is my goal of being a professor of geology. Imagining myself in the future as a full-fledged geologist, teaching undergrads about dinosaurs, or even how geology is not just the study of rocks but the study of oceans, volcanoes and everything in between fills me with utter excitement. Hopefully, one day I can show students just how fascinating geology is and make them as passionate about this science as I am, and that is why I want to be a geologist.
www.aipg.org
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