Academic Programs > For Prospective Students > Meet Our Students > Donna Pahl
Donna Pahl
Hometown: Granite, MD
Major: Plant Science
When I was looking at colleges, I was impressed by the faculty at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. During "Visit Maryland" days and in interviews the professors seemed friendly and approachable.
The college offers a variety of agriculture-related activities and clubs. Students are pretty involved, so it’s easy to meet new people. As a result, there are usually other people that you know in your classes.
My favorite course has been PLSC100, an introductory horticulture course. I came into the college as a plant science major, and taking this course made me realize that I had made the right decision. It exposed me to the wide range of interests that horticulture encompasses, and the lab component included visits to both the National Arboretum and the Botanical Gardens in Washington, DC.
I receive a scholarship, which means a lot to me and my family. I don't need to rely on a job during the semester, so I can focus on my classes and internships. For example, I participated in the university's Undergraduate Research Assistant Program, which encourages students to intern under a professor. I completed my internship in Dr. Shrewsbury’s entomology lab, where I worked with graduate students and other lab technicians. Although I am not an entomology major, having this internship taught me about the relationships between plant science and entomology, as well as giving me experience in the lab.
Receiving a scholarship has also allowed me to take advantage of other opportunities that I'm interested in, like the Wakonse Conference on College Teaching. This conference, which took place on the coast of Michigan, was a great opportunity to talk and socialize with other students from across the country. We were asked to “educate” participating professors on our favorite teaching techniques and were encouraged to take an active role in our education.
When I first came to the University of Maryland, I had an idea of my career path. I grew up working on my family’s vegetable farm, and I knew that I wanted to continue to farm. Today, I still plan on working on the farm in the future. However, my experiences at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have taught me that my career opportunities are much broader than I once thought.
Advice to prospective students and parents: "Research the college. Look over the brochures and the website, visit the campus for a tour, and ask if there are opportunities to talk to other students and professors. If possible, attend Maryland Day/AGNR Day in the spring. Not only is it a great opportunity to look at the college’s facilities and meet other people, but it also exhibits the entire university."
For more information, contact Elizabeth Weiss
Last updated: 03/9/2009
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