Academic Programs > For Prospective Students > Meet Our Students > Sam Bosco
Sam Bosco
Hometown: Millburn, NJ
Major: Natural Resources Management
I was attracted to the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources because I wanted to be where opportunities were abundant, and being in Maryland puts me in the middle of a lot of important arenas having to do with the environment. Washington, DC, is the heart of politics and is home to the EPA, other environmental agencies, and many non-profit organizations; it’s also in the middle of critical habitats, such as the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
Maryland’s curriculum and the credentials of its faculty are impressive, as are the various grassroots projects on campus such as the solar house, green roofing, composting, and the prospective purchase of wind energy.
When I first came here I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to end up in the professional world. All I knew was that I wanted to be active with integrating sustainability into society. The interdisciplinary aspect of the Natural Resources Management program interested me because it meant I could do just about anything.
Currently I’m participating in a paid internship at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). My job is twofold: I’m a research assistant to Susan Hagood, a PhD student in the college’s Environmental Science and Technology program, and am helping her with her thesis dealing with habitat fragmentation and eastern box turtle genetic diversity.I’m also assisting the HSUS with a habitat relocation project that involves tracking eastern box turtles in various regional and conservation parks in Montgomery County.
This internship, the West Virginia field course, and the Costa Rican study abroad program have been among my best experiences in college.The best aspect of such “outside the classroom” learning opportunities is that they provide a complete learning experience.Not only did I gain new knowledge and learn new skills, but I also developed as a person.I discovered what I wanted to do, but I also learned what I didn’t want to end up doing…and that’s extremely helpful.
Advice for prospective students: If you come to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, establish an honest and conversational relationship with your advisor. No one knows the possibilities within the university better than the advisors, and if you’re open about your aspirations, shortcomings, special needs, excitements, etc., they can help you get the most out of your education. Also, take advantage of as many relevant extracurricular or “outside of the classroom” programs as possible; this includes clubs, study abroad, summer jobs, and internships. Lastly, be true to yourself. Don’t embark on a path that you don’t believe in, don’t do something just because it’s easier or because it’s guaranteed to make you more money. Let this be a time when you fully develop who you are, who you’ll be, and what you want to do.
Advice for parents of prospective students: Encourage your children, without bias, to find out who they truly are and what they really want to do. Once they find their drive, their “beingness,” then all they need is your unconditional support.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Weiss
Last updated: 03/9/2009
Video-HGIC Intro
Need help in the garden? View HGIC's latest video to see who we are and what we do. Then be a good friend and share the link with others! - posted Nov 23, 2009
What do Katie O'Malley, cover crops, and onthefarmradio.com have in common?
Answer: The Grow It Eat It Campaign! Onthefarmradio.com, promotes cover crops and the Grow It Eat It campaign with Katie O'Malley's Kitchen Garden. - posted Nov 19, 2009
MDA features Grow It Eat It in November eNewsletter.
Maryland's 1st Lady Katie O'Malley plants a cover crop in her kitchen garden with the help of Master Gardeners as part of the Grow It Eat It campaign. - posted Nov 17, 2009
