2022

S C H O L A R S H I P

ELLA BUCHERT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS,AMHERST

Myfirst semester at collegeflew by UMassAmherst wasexactlywhat I neededinaschool UMassisfull of pride,opportunities,great people,dedicated professors,and #1 dining.UMasshasthemost welcomingpeopleI?veever met,andeveryoneis willingtolendahelpinghand Comingfroman island,transitioningtooneof thelargest universities wasn? t easy,but theprofessorsandpeoplehave mademefeel likeI candoanything I feel myself becomingmoreindependent every day that I spend there I know thefriendsI havemet thissemester will beinmy lifefor alongtime,and I?msograteful tohavetheenvironment UMass,Amherst provides I wasoverwhelmedat first by theopportunitiesthat wereeverywhere,but I went toclubfairsinthefirst weeksand joinedtheOutingCluband MASSPIRG MASSPIRGisanawesomestudent advocacygroup that supportsclimateactionandvotingrights I got involvedonmy way toclasswhentheir tablingcrew helpedmesignuptovoteonthespot Their membersseemedlikegreat peoplededicatedtothe climatecrisis TheOutingClubstrivestoget people innatureby hostingtripslikecavedivingand climbinglocal mountains I?mexcitedtoattend another springclubfair andjoinmoregroups

Thesemonthsat UMasshavebeenfantastic,and I look forward tomany more Myclassesand professorshavemademewant toexplorewhat I can doasanenvironmental sciencemajor I?mthinking of doublemajoringor minoringinNatural Resource Conservationor Geoscience Thereareendless opportunitiescollegehasprovidedme,and I?mso thankful to havethesupport of MVYouth I would havehadamuch morestressful collegelifewithout MVYouthbehindme I?mvery grateful tocomefrom suchabeautiful islandwithsuchgenerouspeople.