Hi MeadoWatchers!
Temperatures are rising and biting insects are peaking. plenty to complain about while outdoors; I honestly
found myself getting a bit frustrated with the bugs a couple of times last week.
Last Wednesday, I hiked the Reflection Lakes trail. It was a pretty cool hike (compared to our recent
temperatures) and I didn't see too many people until I reached some of the upper plots. On this day, I felt a
sense of calm as I walked along the trail, slower than I normally do, collecting data and just taking in my
surroundings. This sense of tranquility followed me to the end of the maintained trail where I found a nice
rocky area to sit down, have lunch, and reflect on the summer so far. I've certainly thought about this before,
but in this moment I was able to reflect on how fortunate I am to have this internship this summer.
In April, after a dismal interviewing experience with Seattle City Light and several rejection emails from other
government entities in the area I was starting to get nervous about the prospect of not securing an internship
this summer; something I needed for 1.) income and 2.) to fulfill the 400 hour internship requirement set in
place by the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance for their MPA candidates. I was nervous, but
marginally optimistic because I knew my dream internship for the summer was as far away from the office
building settings of the internships I had applied to up to that point. That dream became reality when a friend
told me about the MeadoWatch opportunity. I applied and here I am today.
While reflecting in my lunch spot on Wednesday, I thought about how grateful I am to be in this position; the
opportunity to participate in a program so closely aligned with my personal passions and and career goals is
not Iost on me. I have been gifted with an amazing opportunity that is allowing me to realize the trite phrase,
"find a job you enjoy and you will never work a day in your life," even if this job only lasts a few months.
I also reflected on the role that African-Americans play in environmentalism, the erasure of African-American
environmentalists from mainstream history, and the relationship many African-Americans today have with
the "environment" and outdoor recreation. As an African-American man, I thought about the widespread
belief among many of my peers that outdoor recreation and environmentalism are "white people activities".
I began to hope that my visibility in my current position, albeit a small one, and passion for the outdoors and
environmentalism can begin to change this belief that many of my peers have.
I know this blog is vastly different from the ones I have written so far, but I really just wanted to take the time
to express my gratitude for this program and everyone involved in it. I wanted to express how much it means
to me that I have the opportunity to participate in a program like this and I know it would be absolutely
impossible for me to have this experience without you, MeadoWatchers. After my reflection, I realized
characterizing the bugs as even a minor nuisance would be an overstatement.
I hope the MeadoWatch 2018 season has been as much of a joy for you as it has been for
me. As always, I hope I have the opportunity to see some of you all on the trails in the future!
All the Best,
Joshua Jenkins
Temperatures are rising and biting insects are peaking. plenty to complain about while outdoors; I honestly
found myself getting a bit frustrated with the bugs a couple of times last week.
Last Wednesday, I hiked the Reflection Lakes trail. It was a pretty cool hike (compared to our recent
temperatures) and I didn't see too many people until I reached some of the upper plots. On this day, I felt a
sense of calm as I walked along the trail, slower than I normally do, collecting data and just taking in my
surroundings. This sense of tranquility followed me to the end of the maintained trail where I found a nice
rocky area to sit down, have lunch, and reflect on the summer so far. I've certainly thought about this before,
but in this moment I was able to reflect on how fortunate I am to have this internship this summer.
In April, after a dismal interviewing experience with Seattle City Light and several rejection emails from other
government entities in the area I was starting to get nervous about the prospect of not securing an internship
this summer; something I needed for 1.) income and 2.) to fulfill the 400 hour internship requirement set in
place by the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance for their MPA candidates. I was nervous, but
marginally optimistic because I knew my dream internship for the summer was as far away from the office
building settings of the internships I had applied to up to that point. That dream became reality when a friend
told me about the MeadoWatch opportunity. I applied and here I am today.
While reflecting in my lunch spot on Wednesday, I thought about how grateful I am to be in this position; the
opportunity to participate in a program so closely aligned with my personal passions and and career goals is
not Iost on me. I have been gifted with an amazing opportunity that is allowing me to realize the trite phrase,
"find a job you enjoy and you will never work a day in your life," even if this job only lasts a few months.
I also reflected on the role that African-Americans play in environmentalism, the erasure of African-American
environmentalists from mainstream history, and the relationship many African-Americans today have with
the "environment" and outdoor recreation. As an African-American man, I thought about the widespread
belief among many of my peers that outdoor recreation and environmentalism are "white people activities".
I began to hope that my visibility in my current position, albeit a small one, and passion for the outdoors and
environmentalism can begin to change this belief that many of my peers have.
I know this blog is vastly different from the ones I have written so far, but I really just wanted to take the time
to express my gratitude for this program and everyone involved in it. I wanted to express how much it means
to me that I have the opportunity to participate in a program like this and I know it would be absolutely
impossible for me to have this experience without you, MeadoWatchers. After my reflection, I realized
characterizing the bugs as even a minor nuisance would be an overstatement.
I hope the MeadoWatch 2018 season has been as much of a joy for you as it has been for
me. As always, I hope I have the opportunity to see some of you all on the trails in the future!
All the Best,
Joshua Jenkins
My Lunch Spot on the Reflection Lakes Trail
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