Ruth do
I already know that I want to work on the forefront of sustainability. However, after this project, I realize how close to home all of these issues are. For too long, people have been naive and/or ignoring the issues right in front of our eyes. I didn't even know about the creek until a few weeks ago. When I saw it for the first time, I couldn't image how horrible it must have been. I also tried to imagine what it must have been like decades ago. This project made me realize that I want to continue in environmental engineering with the high hopes that future generations will be more educated and live in a sustainable manner. That is how this project also benefited me. I was considering changing my major because it's somewhat hard (haha...) but now I know that the results of hard work is beautiful. I'm glad to learn that NC State is making such an effort to keep the campus clean and nature friendly. I was shocked when the administration agreed to destroy hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of parking. I was pleased nonetheless. I am not planning to continue with this specific sustainability issue (at least not directly). I am more interested in the renewable energy sources (such as solar panels, wind turbines, etc). However, I will be more aware of my surroundings. Perhaps I'll pull out a few stilt grass here and there. Oh, and I'll also take out that Bradford pear tree in my backyard.
Mackenzie hungate
Since I am in the exploratory studies program, I am still trying to figure out which career path I would like to choose. During this service learning project, I learned that I would not like a career that would require a lot of outdoor work. This information will be helpful when considering a major and career. I learned that a lot of thinking about the effects goes into a sustainable solution and or product. While working in my multi-media group, I learned that I enjoy group interactions and working as a team to accomplish a singular goal. This project benefited me personally because I realized that I want to go into a career that focuses on teamwork. This project benefited me professionally because I learned how to effectively work as a team and to take everyone’s ideas into consideration. I would be willing to participate in another sustainability issue because because I enjoyed the volunteering aspect of this project, but I would rather be involved in a more social sustainability project than environmental.
Kyndra Reed
One of the most important part of a service learning project is learning new information. From this project, I learned that I would not enjoy working outside in the wild. I have been thinking about environmental technology and management as a major so this is will be useful when considering my career later in life. I learned that sustainability is involved in many projects that I do not usually think to be sustainable. Removing invasive species is a sustainable method, but I had never thought of it that way. I learned that NC State’s campus actually imposes sustainable practices everywhere, including the creek I had never noticed before. Working as a team in my multi-media project has taught me how to respect other people’s ideas to make one product. Working as a team during the service itself taught me that teams are definitely more effective than working as an individual. This project benefited me professionally by giving me practice staying positive in something out of my element. I would definitely be willing to contribute to this sustainability issue again because I enjoyed cutting the trees and volunteering, but I would prefer to be in a different service project because I know there are more projects I would probably be more interested in.
Kylan thompson
This project has made me love my major even more. I loved the teamwork involved in this project. This project made me realize that sustainability isn't just one scientist thinking up ways to fix the environment, it's composed of many hard workers making the world a better place one piece at a time. I also learned that my campus has come a long way with sustainability. Rocky Branch Creek is a perfect example of this because it once was a terribly eroded ditch with barely any plant life and now it's thriving with life and has much less erosion.I learned that working with a team outside is much better than doing homework alone on a computer inside. This project has benefited me personally because it made me understand that I definitely want to be working outside the office with a team in my future career. I would love to continue clearing rocky branch creek of invasive species, because I enjoyed the hard work and feeling I had afterwards of satisfaction that I made the environment just a little bit better.