Ah, spring!!!

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." ~Henry David Thoreau

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life." ~Rachel Carson

"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." ~Aldo Leopold

"Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth? The goose who trades his is soon a pile of feathers." ~Aldo Leopold

The beautiful weather and prospect of freedom have put me in a reflective mood. These reflections make me so grateful to be in the interdisciplinary field in which I find myself. Frustrating as this middle ground can be, it really brings harmony to my life and allows me to pursue something that I'm passionate about while still (hopefully!) making relevant contributions to the communities I interact with.

The Aldo Leopold quote about education is something that seems to resonate with how I've felt lately. Half the time, I feel like my education is more about communication than anything else. One thing I've learned through graduate school is that the good professors have tremendous amounts of intelligence and insight, but the great ones can communicate this intelligence to anyone on the street. These thoughts make me want to re-read A Sand County Almanac. Many thanks to Carl for introducing me to Leopold!