This week’s blog was written by Paloma, a Brookies alum. Paloma is a first year student at Penn State where she is studying Journalism and Wildlife and Fisheries Science.
I always had a passion for the environment. In high school, I had taken Environmental Science, but the pandemic had taken away most of the “hands-on” components of the course. I wanted to get out in the field, get my hands dirty, and really learn as much as I could. That’s when my mom stumbled on an ad in a random magazine that she had received about Wildlife Leadership Academy. I was nervous. What could a random girl from DC do with the environment? But after applying, I decided that I needed to at least give it a shot, so I said yes.
After attending WLA Brookies 2022, my passion for the environment was solidified with no doubts. But I also wanted to continue my other passion that I had been working on: journalism. Over the course of 2023, in between classes and homework during my junior year of high school, I spent my time working on the school newspaper, trying to see where I could merge my two passions together. However, my school paper only really covered basic news, and we didn’t have any kind of environmental beat, let alone the readership to justify adding something like that to the paper.
So, in my Senior year of high school, I doubled down on journalism. Surely, if I could become a good enough reporter, then I could start to create my own beats, right? I churned out two research projects related to the history of the media industry and where it was going, and I worked hard to get into colleges that had good journalism programs, but also allowed me to have the flexibility to expand into my wildlife and environmental interests.
After months of applications, waiting, and results, I finally settled on my decision to go to Penn State. When I arrived for my orientation in University Park a week before classes started, I made it clear to my advisor that while I had declared Print and Media Journalism on my application, I wanted to double major in something wildlife related too. My advisor helped me pick out some “trial” classes to test out where I wanted to go that semester, and I started looking at possible majors to mix and match with.
It was hard to find something that worked for me. Maybe Biology? No, too much chemistry, not enough interconnectivity with the media and research components I wanted. Maybe Environmental Science? Also no, as that has too much activism and reporting needs to remain impartial, so there’s an inherent conflict between the two. Eventually, I was looking through the majors offered at Penn State’s Agricultural Science’s school and landed on Wildlife and Fisheries Science, a happy blend of research and science that I could easily meld into my reporting. I had finally found my niche: bridging the gap between science and media to help both sides communicate more effectively with each other.
So I went to my advisor, talked with people in the school of Ag. Science, and started my path to double major. I started looking for internships or jobs where I could practice both my passions together. I stumbled upon a position with Penn State Sustainability. I thought there was no chance I could get hired, but it also didn’t hurt me to apply. After I shockingly got an interview, I received the email one day that I had been accepted for the internship. I was ecstatic. I could finally do my niche and be the bridge.
Now, as I wrap up my freshman year at Penn State, I’m glad that I attended WLA and took the path I did. I’m able to pursue my passions, and make my optimal job a reality with enough perseverance and hard work. I hope to keep up the pathway and move forward with both my degrees, while maintaining my work with PSU Sustainability.
I guess the moral of my story is to make your own path. The environmental field is always growing and changing, so nothing stops you from starting to do something new. If you have a passion, find a way to make it part of your life everyday. And with enough work, and a little bit of luck, you’ll be able to find your pathway forward.
Bridging Passions: My Journey from Environmental Enthusiast to Wildlife Journalism at Penn State
Posted: February 22, 2025 by Katie Mace
This week’s blog was written by Paloma, a Brookies alum. Paloma is a first year student at Penn State where she is studying Journalism and Wildlife and Fisheries Science.
I always had a passion for the environment. In high school, I had taken Environmental Science, but the pandemic had taken away most of the “hands-on” components of the course. I wanted to get out in the field, get my hands dirty, and really learn as much as I could. That’s when my mom stumbled on an ad in a random magazine that she had received about Wildlife Leadership Academy. I was nervous. What could a random girl from DC do with the environment? But after applying, I decided that I needed to at least give it a shot, so I said yes.
After attending WLA Brookies 2022, my passion for the environment was solidified with no doubts. But I also wanted to continue my other passion that I had been working on: journalism. Over the course of 2023, in between classes and homework during my junior year of high school, I spent my time working on the school newspaper, trying to see where I could merge my two passions together. However, my school paper only really covered basic news, and we didn’t have any kind of environmental beat, let alone the readership to justify adding something like that to the paper.
So, in my Senior year of high school, I doubled down on journalism. Surely, if I could become a good enough reporter, then I could start to create my own beats, right? I churned out two research projects related to the history of the media industry and where it was going, and I worked hard to get into colleges that had good journalism programs, but also allowed me to have the flexibility to expand into my wildlife and environmental interests.
After months of applications, waiting, and results, I finally settled on my decision to go to Penn State. When I arrived for my orientation in University Park a week before classes started, I made it clear to my advisor that while I had declared Print and Media Journalism on my application, I wanted to double major in something wildlife related too. My advisor helped me pick out some “trial” classes to test out where I wanted to go that semester, and I started looking at possible majors to mix and match with.
It was hard to find something that worked for me. Maybe Biology? No, too much chemistry, not enough interconnectivity with the media and research components I wanted. Maybe Environmental Science? Also no, as that has too much activism and reporting needs to remain impartial, so there’s an inherent conflict between the two. Eventually, I was looking through the majors offered at Penn State’s Agricultural Science’s school and landed on Wildlife and Fisheries Science, a happy blend of research and science that I could easily meld into my reporting. I had finally found my niche: bridging the gap between science and media to help both sides communicate more effectively with each other.
So I went to my advisor, talked with people in the school of Ag. Science, and started my path to double major. I started looking for internships or jobs where I could practice both my passions together. I stumbled upon a position with Penn State Sustainability. I thought there was no chance I could get hired, but it also didn’t hurt me to apply. After I shockingly got an interview, I received the email one day that I had been accepted for the internship. I was ecstatic. I could finally do my niche and be the bridge.
Now, as I wrap up my freshman year at Penn State, I’m glad that I attended WLA and took the path I did. I’m able to pursue my passions, and make my optimal job a reality with enough perseverance and hard work. I hope to keep up the pathway and move forward with both my degrees, while maintaining my work with PSU Sustainability.
I guess the moral of my story is to make your own path. The environmental field is always growing and changing, so nothing stops you from starting to do something new. If you have a passion, find a way to make it part of your life everyday. And with enough work, and a little bit of luck, you’ll be able to find your pathway forward.
Category: Youth Blog