My time with the Ballona Wetlands Land Trust began in 2024, during my Spring quarter at UCLA, while I was visiting Area A with my environmental club. As a transfer student, I struggled to find opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the world of environmental advocacy and stewardship, so I immediately jumped at the opportunity to get involved with the organization.

At the time, I couldn’t have imagined how priceless the next two years would be. 

When I began as a student intern, I was able to engage in advocacy work through speaking at several state agency meetings regarding the restoration status of the wetlands. This immediately allowed me to familiarize myself with public speaking in a governmental setting, persuasive writing, and also how to engage with state documents to understand current events. I was also able to engage with the community by assisting with educational tours around Area A. I began to hone my expertise of wetland plants by consistently engaging with the environment and people around me, which allowed me to apply what I was learning in textbooks in a practical way. And through these tours, I gained the ability to engage with a variety of audiences.

By the time I became a staff member, I was able to lead tours on my own and confidently explain environmental concepts to older audiences, as well as interesting ecological facts to elementary schoolers. Through the bi-weekly stewardship events, I learned how to engage with our community and foster an environment that welcomed people into restoration. These experiences allowed me to grow both my  interpersonal skills along with my botanical knowledge, but also create a professional network. Through my team at BWLT and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, I was able to apply for opportunities and have my skillset verified by industry professionals. 

I am endlessly grateful to the people and experiences that created the foundation for me to continue to grow in my career. It’s thanks to my time here that I was able to apply to the California Climate Action Corp Fellowship and stand out amongst hundreds of candidates. The next step of my journey will land me in Ventura County with Santa Monica Mountains Fund (SAMO Fund), where I will continue the environmental restoration and community engagement work that we do here. I’m excited to continue to support this team in any way I can, just as my time here supported me.