Me standing in front of drip tape for a bio-solarization experiment in Upper Marlboro,
One activity I excelled at was placing drip tape. I specifically enjoyed connecting the drip tape with pipes—it required a lot more strength than expected. The entire process involved laying out drip tape, cutting it, and twisting it on to pipes so water could reach all the plants in the plots. There was a lot of tape, so the task required much patience and diligence. Another activity I excelled at was planting cantaloupe and peppers. This involved digging holes in the ground, placing plants in the holes, and following a plot chart that ensured we were putting plants in the right location. This required me to be very cognitive and observant. At the end, I was surprised at how much effort it took to complete the task. We had multiple hands so the task moved efficiently, however I could see this being very time consuming if one individual were to tackle it. Also, I excelled at planting basil. I enjoyed seeing all our progress when we were done planting. This task required us to locate basil varieties, measure out the plot, dig holes at one-foot intervals, label the sections of different varieties, and finally plant the basil. I was surprised at how careful we need to be with measurements and planting, it was easy to put our plants in the wrong location. I was working with others during the process which allowed us to help each other when we encountered any difficulties.
With Extension, I have learned that I enjoy working as a team. I used to consider myself someone who liked to work alone when completing a task, but I quickly discovered the value of working with others when I came to Extension. With others, tasks are executed more quickly and thoroughly. Two minds are better than one! Also, I have learned that I am a visual learner and do better when people show me in detail how a given task is executed. For example, when I saw someone else planting the basil in the ground it became much easier for me to do it. Another thing I've learned from this internship is that I appreciate both working with my hands and from a computer. A good balance of both is what I need from my future career. Lastly, I find contemplation to be very useful for career growth. It has allowed me to self-reflect and understand myself more. This has allowed me to understand my strengths and weaknesses, what I like, and what I don't like, and more.
The basil plants planted by me and others at Upper Marlboro Research Farm.
Tomato plants in a high tunnel in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Tomato plants in a high tunnel in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Tomato plants in a high tunnel in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Tomato plants in a high tunnel in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Comments
Post a Comment