Ryan: How do you balance all this into your schedule?

ES: I had a full schedule last quarter so it was hard to do a lot on the side. I don't want to be as busy next quarter either. I had two lab classes that would run late, labs that had extra class days, and labs that had me coming in on my spare time. I didn't have keys to the lab so I had to work my lab time around people who did have keys to the lab. One thing I make sure to do is set time aside to myself at the end of the day, at least an hour or two. I would usually just sit around with a friend and watch TV and eat junk food. One piece of advice I want to give anyone going into college is that you have to make sure everything gets done and then set aside time for yourself. If you don't set time aside for yourself you will die.

Ryan: What was your biggest challenge in college?

ES: My biggest challenge in college would be accepting failure. I never got bad grades in high school, so when I went into college I had to learn to accept getting bad grades. I remember calling my mom and telling her I got a bad grade on a test or in class and she would say, "Oh, you got a bad grade on a test. How sad. Are you feeling okay?" I just had to realize that it was okay to do bad in school, I'm only human so I can make mistakes.

The SuperCroc Delegates at National Geographic Headquarters
in Washington, D.C. Photo: © Project Exploration

Ryan: How has Project Exploration influenced your college life?

ES: Project Exploration is part of my schedule because I work there. It doesn't really affect my schedule because I pick my classes and PE helps me setup my work schedule around my class schedule. In a way PE has influenced me to take certain classes because I want to go into paleontology. PE has helped me reflect on the past, so I am able to change for the present. I have bank account under my name that I'm completely accountable for. I have learned to manage my own money without help from others. PE has given me responsibility and the feeling that I am an adult.

Ryan: Are there any skills or experiences from Project Exploration that you use or have helped you in college? 

ES: Being in programs with other kids I didn't know helped me become comfortable with other people my age. I used to be very outspoken when it came to class, interviews, and conversations with older people, but when it came time to talk to my own peers I was very uncomfortable.

The U of C has a very different background that what I am used to. PE helped me become more comfortable when I was thrown in with people I didn't know much about. It has also made me very comfortable talking on the phone. My house wanted t-shirts and they didn't have anyone to order them so I volunteered. I got all the information and materials and made the order since I was used to doing it at work. When the shirts came everyone was surprised because they didn't think I would actually do it.

Elena with a coyote skull Photo: © Project Exploration

Ryan: What's next for you in life? ES: I plan on getting a car next because I just got my license a few days ago.  I really want a car because I think it's the next step to independence. Everything is so much more easily accessible.  I don't have to worry about waiting for the bus when I want to go somewhere.  I can just get in my car and go.  I think the best thing about me having a car is that I would be able to visit old friends I normally don't get to see because I have to take the bus and train everywhere.  With a car I can go almost everywhere that I want.

I also want to go to grad school when I graduate.  I don't know where I want to go yet for that.  I want to go to the U of C grad school but I also want to keep my possibilities open at the same time.  I want to raise my GPA from a B+ to an A- so that's also something I want to do.

Ryan: How do you pay for college?

ES: Most of the money used to pay for school comes from financial aid (3/4).  It costs me  $41,000 a year to go to the U of C.  I would say that scholarships and financial aid make up $30,000 - $31,000 of tuition.  There is also a loan from the school in my name and one under my parents' name.  I use the money from work to pay for my schoolbooks though.

Ryan: What are you most passionate about?

ES: I'm actually very into writing. I'm writing a fiction book with one of my friends in my dorm.  I use the free time I set aside everyday to work on the book.  I love writing but I don't see myself pursuing it as a career choice.  I love to read for fun, but I don't read regular novels.  I actually have read Dante's Inferno a few times.  I like geology a lot too, but it never seems to come up in any of my daily conversations.  I do correct people when I hear them say something wrong.  That's how I get to talk about geology and stuff I normally get to talk about everyday. 

I love the outdoors the most though. I love riding my bike outside and just being outdoors.  I'm actually going on a hike in New Mexico this summer, so I'm very excited about that.  While in Montana this past summer, I was told about how one of the farm hands got all his scars.  He told me he got them from trapping wild cougars that were a problem in town. I actually thought that it would be cool to do that if I wasn't going into paleontology. I would actually like to trap will cougars and relocate them. I just love the outdoors though; I love going on hikes and getting outside and being in the dirt.

Elena with a pinecone Photo: G. Lyon © Project Exploration