Sydney Amelia West
Underwood & Associates Internship
Between June and August 2022, I began working as a nursery intern for Underwood & Associates, a landscape architecture company that focuses on environmental restoration and regenerative ecosystem construction. I worked alongside employees of DNR, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Severn River Keepers, and partners of Underwood and Associates to learn more about wetlands, bogs, and restorative landscape architecture.
During my internship, I was able to participate in a forest delineation, vegetative transects, and visit current and past Underwood & Associates' restoration sites across Maryland. I was also able to work with my fellow intern, an SMCM alum, to create informational brochures and infographics about Maryland's native plant species commonly found within Severn Chapel Farm, the U&A's nursery. Examples of the work we completed can be found on the page titled "Academic Portfolio."
The forest delineation that I assisted with was of Jabez Branch 3, a highly eroded stream leading to extreme sedimentation of the Severn River. On this site, we also removed and repotted 500+ black, blue, and dwarf huckleberry bushes, high and lowbush blueberry bushes, sapling pine trees, and holly bushes. The removal of these species was in preparation for an access road clearing, and the plants will be used to re-naturalize the area once restoration is completed.
This hands-on experience not only solidified my purpose and drive for restoration and environmental work, but it showed me the different ways that environmentalism can be looked at and implemented based on community needs and wants.
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
In June 2021, I had the opportunity to embark on a 30-day wilderness expedition with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Never having backpacked before and having very little experience with tent camping, I flew to Wyoming and prepared for the trip with 3 instructors and 15 other students.
Over the course of our 30-day trip, we trekked 120 miles through the Absaroka Wilderness of Wyoming and lived through the mottos of "Leave-No-Trace." We learned about ecosystem sustainability, the importance of clean water sources, and the history of the indigenous people that once inhabited the land we walked on. As for practical and long-term skills, we learned how to purify water for drinking, cook with limited resources, camp in ways that protect and respect the land and ecosystems, and how to stay safe when traveling in small groups or by ourselves. Our group also spent several days learning about wilderness medicine and first aid and how important these are for health and safety in the backcountry.
For the final 5 days of the experience, I was chosen to lead a group of 4 other students on an independent expedition. The group of 15 students was split into 3 groups, each given a set of maps, a personal locator beacon for emergencies, and all of our food and materials were equally distributed. For 5 days, we lived on the land without the assistance of our 3 instructors, or the companionship of our other 10 students. It was truly an eye-opening experience and this put my leadership skills to a practical test. I was responsible for the safety of my group, distributing daily responsibilities, and arriving at our pre-determined destinations in a timely manner.
Spending 30 days with 18 people I once called strangers is a surreal experience, and I am amazed by how much I learned about myself and the extent of the natural world. This experience solidified my desire to work in the outdoors and for natural resources protection, and it opened my eyes to all of the ways that the environment can be appreciated in its natural beauty.
SMCM Women's Varsity Rowing
In 2019, I joined the SMCM Women's Varsity Rowing team and began my journey as a 4-year student-athlete. Two years later, in spring 2021, I was elected as team captain and began my role as a leadership figure for my peers and campus community. I was reelected as team captain in spring 2022 and have been able to continue my work in creating a cohesive, respectful, and caring team of students.
While waking up at 4:45 am every day to begin rowing in complete darkness may seem outrageous or undesirable to some, it truly changed my undergraduate experience for the better. It gave me the opportunity to find a supportive community of students and faculty and learn the importance of accountability and time management. Work-life balance, academics, and athletic responsibilities helped keep me focused on my long-term goals and made it possible for me to stay present during my time at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
One of the most important focuses of rowing is personal achievement and support of yourself and your capabilities. I learned how to push through difficult times, even when I didn't think the task was achievable. My capabilities for perseverance and mental strength increased drastically alongside my confidence and drive for success.
After three years of hard work, our team's mental strength and confidence led us to win conference championships for the first time in team history, and defeat the 10-year conference champion. This achievement qualified us to compete in Sarasota, Florida at the 2022 NCAA DIII Rowing Championships, where we are now ranked 8th in the United States.
Making it to national championships after only being a varsity program for 6 years shows the dedication of the program, myself and my peers. As I enter into the final months of my athletic career at St. Mary's, I am reminded of the reasons why I chose this sport, and I am thankful for how much it allowed me to learn and grow as an individual and team leader.