Posts by Kathryn Prater Bomey

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Posts by Kathryn Prater Bomey

What’s Next: My Second Career

April 17, 2012 | By Kathryn Prater Bomey, Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

When I started my first job after college, I never imagined I’d begin a second career a mere five years later. For some, earning two degrees and having two different careers before the age of 30 might seem daunting, but I’m excited to see what the future will bring. I’m still drawing up my long-term plans, but I’ve landed an internship for the summer that will keep me busy in the interim. As an intern at The Nature Conservancy’s worldwide office in metro Washington, D.C., I will raise awareness about TNC’s Nature Rocks initiative, a program aiming to increase the…

Published in: Student Voices

The Key to Success: Passion

March 20, 2012 | By Kathryn Prater Bomey, Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

Passion. It’s what drives people in the environmental conservation field. Passion for preserving natural wonders, protecting endangered flora and fauna, restoring degraded land, improving policy, changing behavior, reducing industry’s footprint, achieving environmental justice, creating sustainable societies, and improving the lives of people across the globe. Passion. It’s the key to our success. The field of conservation is truly multidisciplinary and encompasses a broad spectrum of careers, ranging from ecological restoration technician, to environmental educator, to business sustainability consultant. But no matter the subdiscipline, passion is the common thread tying all of us together. Without it, your efforts fall flat, and…

Published in: Student Voices

Why I Came to U-M: The Right Location and the Right Program

February 13, 2012 | By Kathryn Prater Bomey, Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

Picking a grad school was an easy choice for me. As a southeast Michigan resident, the University of Michigan was a world-class educational institution practically in my own backyard. So once I decided to go back to school, the choice was clear. During my previous career as a journalist, I often wrote articles about conservation and environmental education. I was continually struck by people’s passion toward nature and protecting the environment. For example, I’ll never forget the time I listened to children proudly tell me how a rain garden they created would keep pollutants out of their watershed, or the…

Published in: Student Voices

Winter in Ann Arbor: A Classic Christmas Tradition

January 13, 2012 | By Kathryn Prater Bomey, Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

Nothing brings out the holiday spirit more than Christmas music. But not just any Christmas music. I'm talking about an Ann Arbor classic. And what's more classic than a piece composed in 1741? The University Musical Society has performed Handel's "Messiah" for 127 years, and it's one holiday tradition you don't want to miss. This year, I attended “Messiah” for the first time. It was a stunning performance by the UMS Choral Union and Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, and I can see why people come back to see it year after year. It was also my first time inside Hill…

Published in: Student Voices

Get Involved: The University Has a Lot to Offer

December 15, 2011 | By Kathryn Prater Bomey, Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

As grad students, it’s probably a safe bet to say we’re all deeply involved in our individual programs – whether we are graduate student instructors, research assistants, student government representatives, or simply committed students. However, it’s important not to lose sight of the university as a whole and all it has to offer: musical performances, athletic events, networking opportunities, skill-building workshops, interesting lectures, career advising, casual nights out. Some require tickets, of course, but many of them are just the right price for a grad student – free. Trust me, I know it’s hard to make time in a hectic…

Published in: Student Voices

Faculty Connections: Insights into New Careers

November 18, 2011 | By Kathryn Prater Bomey, Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

When just starting out in a new career field, most of us need a little nudge in the right direction. Whether embarking on a new journey fresh out of undergrad or navigating the uncertain waters of a career change following grad school, a little bit of guidance can go a long way. Today, I'm more than halfway through a career transition, shifting from the journalism industry to environmental conservation through my U-M graduate program. Making the leap was a lot easier because of the guidance I received as an undergraduate journalism major at Eastern Michigan University. Three people in particular,…

Published in: Student Voices

Balance: Making Time for Me

October 24, 2011 | By Kathryn Prater Bomey, Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

It’s easy to get lost in your work. And grad school is definitely a lot of work. I’ll admit it: I have not done a very good job of balancing my work and personal life during grad school. I tend to jump into things with both feet, and since last fall, graduate school has consumed most of my attention. But, there is still hope for me. In fact, I’ve started deliberately making an effort to tip the scales a little more toward living and a little less toward working. A few of my personal resolutions: Hobbies Hobbies tend to be…

Published in: Student Voices

Meet the Bloggers: Kathryn Prater Bomey

September 22, 2011 | By Kathryn Prater Bomey, Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

When I started grad school last fall, I officially made the switch from killing trees to saving them. I’m Kathryn, a second-year master’s student at the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE). Before starting classes at SNRE in fall 2010, I was working as a reporter at the Lansing State Journal, the daily newspaper in the state capital. Talk about a paper-intensive industry! But that’s not why I made the jump. While working at the newspaper, I occasionally got the chance to write about local environmental initiatives, ranging from a green roof on a new condominium building to a…

Published in: Student Voices

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