Meet Our Students - Paul Kelley
Why did you choose UMaine and the EES program?
I have always been attached to the outdoors and UMaine is the perfect place to be if you like being around nature. There are many courses that take you outside classroom and into nature, teaching you about how the Earth functions using living examples. Even during the cold wintery months UMaine provides a beautiful landscape that hasn’t been scathed by too much development. Conserving the natural environment has always been something that is important to me, which is why I chose to be part of the EES program. With the help from many distinguished professors who are still doing research in their respective fields and classes and labs that give me a hands-on approach to learning, I have learned so much about the environment and how to conserve it. I want to have a career in career in environmental conservation and UMaine has definitely given me the tools and paved the way for me to get there.
What has been your favorite class so far?
My favorite class I have taken so far has been Biology of Maine with Professor Glanz. In this class we learned all about Maine’s flora and fauna in an outdoor setting, went on field trips to Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, and the Orono Bog, and even did an actual research project where we got to collect and analyze data on a project of our choosing.
Best Hands-On Experience?
The best hands-on experience I had was during my semester abroad in Ecuador. I traveled to both the Amazon rainforest and the Galapagos Islands! Read more about it here (http://umaine.edu/ees-undergraduate/student-focus/)
The study abroad office at UMaine is really helpful with connecting students to abroad programs in countries all over the world. It was an experience that I will treasure forever, and one that I think all college kids should experience.
What do you do when you aren’t studying or attending classes?
I am part of the UMaine Track Team here at the university. It is a ton of fun traveling all along the east coast going to meets with fellow teammates who are like family to me. From NCAA D1 athletics, to club sports and intramurals, we have athletic activities for all people of all skill levels here at UMaine. There is an awesome Rec Center that has everything from basketball courts and weightlifting machines to swimming pools and even a 40 person hot tub where you can usually find me after a hard practice.
Any words of wisdom for incoming students?
My best advice is to treat college like a job. Wake up, go to class, get your studies done while the material is still fresh in your head, and then go have fun for the rest of the day. Procrastinating and pulling all-nighters will make you worried and stressed. There is nothing better than going out with your friends and not having to worry about that paper you have to write by midnight, because you already wrote it!
Any advice for prospective EES Students?
Get involved! There are many students who will say that Maine is boring and that there is nothing to do. Well that is always the case for any college if you choose to do nothing all day. There are a plethora of things to do on campus and in the surrounding areas, you just have to be willing to go out there and discover the opportunities for yourself. For students who enjoy being with nature there are clubs like Green Team, and the Student Chapter of the Wilderness Society that are really fun and look great on a resume.