And that's a wrap, for now...

Well folks, this awesome semester has come to a wrap. Yesterday, I presented my postcard project; you can find it in the menu of my website,

Diegonorena.biz/alaska-postcards

and I presented about my internship, and everything went really well. Last week, I presented my research project, which compared high and low-traffic sites in Homer Harbor. I am so happy with all my projects and work this semester. I learned how to carry out a scientific research project, how to work an internship, and how to create interesting presentations about the work I’ve done.

Alaska had never crossed my radar as a place I wanted to live or spend a ton of time in since I am so used to northern Canada I just wanted to go to the Yukon. That was until I discovered the Semester by the Bay program in October. I quickly applied and got accepted, and my fate was determined. This experience has given me so many things I never knew I needed. It has been a pleasure to connect with so many scientists and people who are passionate about their craft and their environment. People's love for their home and enthusiasm for sharing it with me has really left a mark.

I feel so lucky that I don’t have to go home today. I will go to Juneau for the summer and attend school for the next two years. I know there are so many wonderful experiences waiting to happen, but saying goodbye to Homer will be with a heavy heart. Homer embraced me and showed me what is possible. I connected with the community mainly through birding and met so many great people. Homer deepened my passion for photography and showed me a possible path forward to combine science and photography. I really tried to extract every ounce of opportunity by talking to people and doing new things here, and I’ll carry this enthusiasm for exploring and learning with me everywhere I go.

I am eternally grateful to the people who made this experience possible and worthwhile: my parents, professors, and birding friends. I’m also grateful to Homer for showing me its beauty in wildlife and landscapes.