By Ward Allebach, Editor
  EnviroEducation.com

When I decided to change my life by entering the environmental field, I didn't have a clue. 

Far as I knew, "Pollution" only came from "Bad Guys" who were sending the world to "Hell-in-a-Handbasket" so they could make more "Money."

I didn't know what I could do, how to do it, or where to go to make my way in the environmental field.  But, at the time, I wasn't the type who cared much about "how" - I was the "let's-just-do-it" type, so I stumbled my way through. 

I didn't do too badly, I suppose.  But, 10 years later, and having been through and worked in the academic world, I know that there is a much better way. 

Doesn't matter if you're in high school thinking about college or in college thinking about graduate school, you can make it easier on yourself by learning from my mistakes - and, believe me, there were many...

IN THE BEGINNING...

I was a reporter at the time, working for a newspaper and covering local environmental issues (among other things).  My undergraduate degree was in journalism, so I knew that I could write pretty well. I'd done some public relations, too.  But where would all that take me?

The environmental field looked very specialized to me.  I thought it was just for scientists, and, with a background in journalism, I was no scientist!  Yes, I had the interest and a growing passion for the environmental movement... but I didn't know if I had the skills to succeed.

Looking back now, I can tell you something important that I didn't know then:  No matter what your skills, you can succeed. 

Before you even take the first step toward pursuing a degree in an environmental field, you should take a good look at yourself.

Make a list of your environmental interests and include the issues that are most important to you.  For example:

• Are you drawn to the outdoors or to wildlife? 
• Do you love the ocean or just poking around in creeks? 
• Are you particularly concerned about air pollution, global warming, or the environmental education of younger generations? 

Next, take a look at your skills and make another list. 

• If you're working, what skills have you learned?  Accounting, cooking, creative arts, communications, management, nursing, researching, etc.
• If you're in school, what are your best subjects?  Math and science?  English or history? 
• Consider your life experiences, too.  Maybe you've learned a good bit about hiking or taking care of plants on your own or through clubs and organizations.

You can compare your list of skills against the requirements of prospective careers. This will also help you identify areas where you need to acquire more skills.

Keep these lists.  We'll get back to them in a minute.

I was determined, but, hmmmmm.... where should I start?

I was passionate about environmental protection, with an interest in water quality because I'd spent some time reporting on ocean dumping polluters on the New Jersey coast.  Given this, I mused that I could learn more about water so I could better write about it.  But who writes about water for a living?

Without investigating the answer, I discarded the idea as ridiculous and decided to pursue a general environmental degree, hoping to get a diverse background in environmental issues and keep my options open as I went along. 

There is room in the environmental field for everyone, no matter what your skills. You only need to do some research to find out where your skills can be best used.

Environmental professionals need more than the best experts on technical stuff:

• They need people who write to reach the people who read
• They need people who understand economics to make sound financial decisions, based on good science
• They need people knowledgeable of laws and policies
• They need people with diplomacy skills to handle situations when all parties don't agree.

• You think the local park isn't an environmental issue? Tell that to the families that go there to enjoy the woods, the streams and the birds. Lots of people are working hard to keep these places nice. Natural resource managers, park rangers, city planners, computer experts using GIS programs to evaluate the impact of adjacent land use. The list goes on.
• You think your car isn't an environmental issue? Consider the air pollution from exhaust, the water pollution from oil and gas drips, the wildlife pressed closer and closer together by new roads and highways. It's hard for most people to imagine all of the consequences... and, most importantly to you, try to imagine all of the opportunities in the environmental field that these problems create.
• Even your diet is an environmental issue! Consider the rain forests that are still being devastated solely to raise cows for beef. Many environmental professionals are passionate about having people recognize how food choice affects the environment.

Of course, we need people to write about water! How else will people ever come to understand why we need to protect it?

RESEARCH... YOU GOTTA DIG!

Having made up my mind about what kind of degree to pursue, I dutifully scoured the Library for graduate schools with environmental programs.  It took hours just to find a couple of books that had useful information... Then, it took hours more sifting through them at home.

This helped me get a good idea of what environmental programs were available and, generally, what I would have to do to get into them. 

Another library or two visit later, and I narrowed the field of potential programs to about seven or eight universities.  I contacted each of them by mail, requesting more detailed information on their environmental programs.

Back then, the Internet was in its infancy. Today, it doesn't make much sense to scour through hundreds of books on shelves when the answer is at your fingertips.

Now, there are resources on the web for everything. Need to find a college? There's CollegeQuest.com. Need financial aid? There's FinAid.com. Need to find or start a new career? There are more job boards than you can shake a stick at... whatever that means.

If you're here, reading this, then there's a good chance that you're Cyber-Savvy and you've already got most of what you need to get started in the environmental field. Heck... we put most of it right here!

But, don't knock human interaction - it's a very important supplement to on-line research. (There's only so much feedback you can get from a computer screen.) Remember the lists we made in Lesson 1? Well, break them out as talking points, and get going....

• Go to career centers and counseling centers - Talk to the pros at your high school or a local college. It's their job to talk about your ambitions and how to meet them.

• Do some creative brainstorming - Talk with friends and family about what you want to do in the environmental field, why you want to do it, and how you can best get to where you want to go.

• Talk with environmental professionals - When you find an area of interest, try to track down some folks who are already doing it by calling companies or agencies. Many would love to speak to you, and even give you a hands-on tour of what they do. (Keep in mind that you may need to try a few before you can make an appointment)

• Go to libraries and bookstores - Sure, I was bagging on them earlier, but it's easier when you know exactly what you're looking for, after your web search. You can actually find some of the books you couldn't read on Amazon.com without paying.

All of these will help tremendously to get you on your way toward an environmental career.

JUMPING THROUGH THE HOOPS

It was getting into winter by the time I got responses from all of these schools, and I found (to my dismay) that half of them had already stopped accepting applications for admission the next fall!  And, for several others, there was no hope of getting it all together in time.

My search had been narrowed by my own mistakes, but I was confident that one of my remaining choices would work out.  I still had a few months before the final application deadlines - but there was so much that I needed to do! Even I knew that you can't just walk into an environmental program anywhere you please, so...

• I enrolled in a class which was a pre-requisite for all of the environmental programs on my list (Calculus, I thought... ickkk!)
• I studied hard and took my Graduate Record Exam (GRE), required by most on my list
• I got my transcripts together and found great Letters of Recommendation from important people
• I sent my applications in just before the deadlines
• I talked to program and admissions directors and arranged to visit each of the campuses

There was probably more, too. I really thought that I was doing all right the right stuff.

It's not that I did anything particularly wrong. I just didn't give myself enough time to do it all.

I really had no idea how much there was to do, and how so many little things - which really, really seemed like they should take only a few hours - could drag into days... then weeks... then months!

The most important lesson here is to realize something: The rest of world rarely work according to the calendar of events in your mind. No matter how quickly you think you can get things done, trust me, it will take longer.

Very often, it will take much longer than you think.

If you're reading this right now, and you're just starting the process of looking for an environmental education that will lead to an environmental career, you would be wise to settle on the idea that you are probably at least a year or a year-and-a-half away... that's if you want things to work out on your own terms.

Here are a few pointers from my "coulda-woulda-shoulda" list:

• Think Ahead - If you start early and plan ahead, you'll have had twice as many environmental programs to choose from. Wouldn't it be nice to be faced with deciding which program is the most ideal for you, rather than which one to settle for?

• Don't Just "Meet" the Deadlines - Most people wait until the last minute. If you do, too, there's less of a chance of standing out in the crowd. To make a good first impression and have your name stick out in the minds of the decision-makers, get your stuff in early!

• There's So Much Help Out There - Remember that pre-requisite classes and exams are important indicators to many environmental programs of how prepared you are. You should find out what your top choices want to see, and do what you have to do to meet those expectations. There are so many ways to do well in important classes and to prepare for important tests. Visit our Testing resources page for a sampling.

• Better off Small & Personal, Than Big & Generic - Be certain that the people who write your recommendations prepare personalized letters about you. Most program leaders agree that a detailed letter from a teacher who is familiar with you and your capabilities carries more weight than a generic letter from a high-ranking official.

Once you get behind the eight-ball, you'll find that things are less under your control.

REALITY SETS IN

The competition to get into these programs was tough, and, man, I was surprised when I was only accepted to two of four programs, and neither of them was my top choice.

Nevertheless, my youthful optimism was not tainted (...and neither should yours, if you should find yourself in the same boat!).  I simply made my list of pros and cons, picked a program, packed my bags, and went on my way.

All was going well for the first few months.  I was doing just fine in classes, studying hard, learning a lot, feeling good about the world and my choices. Everything I'd expected and more!  Then, I took a hard look at my bank account...

I'd saved up enough money, I thought, to pay for a year's worth of living.  I found out fairly quickly that while I did well on my GRE math scores, my practical math skills with my check book left something to be desired.

No one - and I mean NO ONE - who is determined to get an environmental degree should be stopped by a lack of money. There are too many ways to get it.

The Department of Education says that about half of you won't need financial aid. Those of you will probably work a lot of odd hours while taking classes, or take night classes while staying up late and getting up early.

The other half of you will hunt and search everywhere for student loans, grants, awards and scholarships. For this half, when it comes to financing your environmental degree, fortunately, you have a few options:

• Student Loans - Chances are, if you have a real financial need, you'll qualify for a student loan, and you won't have to worry too much about paying for your degree until after you graduate. Then, of course, you'll be paying for it for 10 or 20 years, depending on how much you borrow.

• Free Money - There are lots and lots of funding opportunities out there for environmental students... But, if you don't do your homework, you'll surely miss the boat! Please take a look at our Financial Aid page for a brief glimpse at what's available. You'll find that there are scholarships of every kind for environmental students. Or, for a closer look at how to track this stuff down, look at our front-page article on Environmental Scholarships.

The biggest lesson here is that, even if you miss the Free Money ride (and the vast majority of us do), your environmental career is far from sunken. I looked for environmental grants and scholarships, but it was too late by the time I started. I ended up working a lot and taking out student loans.

It may be a hard road to haul, but you can do it. Don't believe for even a minute that you can't.

GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW

I did what I had to do, and a year-and-a-half later, I was well on my way to completing my degree. Finally, I felt like I was doing things right.

I was pleased that my research had led me to a program which allowed me to focus my communications skills in the environmental field. I looked for classes to gain experience in environmental projects that interested me.

Then, I did my best to get to know the professors.  I asked for their opinions and advice outside of class.  I found that they had many connections to the environmental world beyond the campus grounds, and they had practical ideas which helped me find the direction I needed.  I learned where to look, who to call, what to say, and how to say it.

One faculty member became the most valuable resource I would ever have in the environmental field, and the path he helped me to find is the same one I remain on today.

I learned so much in class. But, it was outside the classroom that I learned the most.

Most faculty members are committed to helping their students, regardless of the program, but it's much easier for them to help those who take the initiative to help themselves. That's why it's so important to see them after class or in their offices. Here's a brief look at what they can do for you:

• Career Counseling - Teachers know a lot about the environmental field - it's their specialty. You'll have a "faculty advisor" who is supposed to talk to you about what's available in the field, what you can do with your skills and interests, what classes you should take next. This is really important - but don't stop there! Talk to other faculty, too. Their perspectives will help.

• Find Job Openings - Your teachers have connections in the outside world that often go far beyond the "Job Postings" bulletin board that every environmental department has. They can help find openings just for you and put in a good word for you - but they're less likely to do that if you don't take the time to show that you're worth their "good word."

• Learn More About the Environmental Field - The classroom is sometimes too much about academics and not enough about "real" life. Teachers often just don't have the time or the freedom to offer practical and important insights in class.

If you don't see eye to eye with one teacher, then try another. Do whatever you can to learn from their experience and their perspective on the environmental field.

THE ROAD TO GOLDEN ENLIGHTENMENT

It was in my first year of graduate school that I decided to start a nonprofit environmental group as part of my Masters Project, designed to help other environmental groups through networking and communications. 

It was in my second year that I landed an internship for a water quality testing agency, and (yes, indeed!), in large part, I got the position because I could write about water. This internship led to a full-time position which even further helped my nonprofit endeavor, which was my real passion.

I graduated, but I kept in touch with the environmental faculty.  Through my full-time job, I made many contacts with government agencies and environmental businesses.  Through my volunteer group, I made many contacts with the nonprofit environmental sector and community leaders.

Not too long later, I found myself teaching an Environmental Activism class for the same graduate program that I came from and an Environmental Internships class at another community college.

Looking back, I can hardly believe how time flew by and how well it all came together.

Perhaps the most important part of your environmental education is building your credibility so employers will feel comfortable hiring you.

And it's good to remember that good grades aren't everything! Matter of fact, there are a lot of employers who don't really care what your grades are - all they care about is whether or not you can do the job.

Thus, you will find that, in the course of your environmental education, you will have at least a couple of opportunities to really show what you can do:

• The Internship - Internships are huge, so take them very, very seriously. You absolutely will not get a better chance to show your stuff, your commitment, and your ability to work in the environmental field. Most of the time, it's not about showing off what you know, but what can do and what you're willing to do. If you impress your boss during your internship, you can bet that you'll have an inside track if a full-time position opens up. You can also use the networking resources of that company to find another similar position in the same or a related field.
• Volunteer! - There are soooooooo many organizations, in every sector of the economy that have more work on their hands than they can handle. You should take advantage of every opportunity that you can to gain first-hand experience in your field of interest. Volunteering is a golden opportunity to show your stuff and make important connection with people who can help you find your "dream job" in the environmental field. So, look around in your community, and find out what's going on; call local groups, agencies and businesses to see what you can do to help. Then, make the time to volunteer!
• The Thesis or Project - This isn't applicable for all programs (particularly for most undergraduate studies), but for those for which it does... YOU get to choose something to investigate, a problem to tackle. YOU get to find the answers, do the research, document your findings. It's a huge endeavor, and it doesn't have to be just "academic." You should make it worthwhile, make it say something... and, while you're at it, do it with the idea of impressing future employers!

You see, hiring is risky for employers. They don't usually want to take the time to hire and train an unknown.

Theses, Projects and Internships are tangible. A potential employer can more clearly see the quality of your work. So, if you really show them what you've got, that you're the one and that you're serious about your work and your commitment, you'll stand that much better a chance of landing the job.

AND THE JOURNEY CONTINUES...

I held that job in water quality testing for eight years before moving on (and across the country, too) to help build EnviroEducation.com.  I still keep many of those contacts.

I've changed my ways in the last 10 years.  Some for the better, and (perhaps) some for the worse.  That's all part of getting older. 

I changed my life, too, when I entered the environmental field. 

And I couldn't have been more right about that decision.

Maybe this is more philosophical than educational, but you should remember that everyone you meet throughout your lifetime has a perspective based on their own experiences. Every single one of them is unique. Every single person you meet has something different to offer.

You can learn from them!

In the environmental field, in particular, the issues are so complex, they boggle the best of the scientific minds - have you ever noticed how difficult it is to find a consensus on almost any issue?

When you are making your way in the environmental field, pay attention to the people you meet - teachers, students, co-workers, business people, community activists, government regulators, and anyone else who takes the issues seriously for whatever reason. They all bring something important to the table.

Everything in the world is so interconnected, there are so many factors to consider, variables are constantly changing... I mean, this is a tough field!

But the environmental profession could be the most important because what if we break something important that we just can't fix? What if our lives depend on it?

What if you could be the one to figure that out?