Why did you choose Stockton?

I transferred to Stockton because I wanted to be closer to home and had heard good things about the Sustainability program, its faculty and the school in general.

How did you choose your major?

Growing up, I was a huge outdoors kid and spent a lot of time with my brother and friends pretending to be animals and looking for frogs and insects. Later on I got really into plants and often tried to grow things in our backyard. I took AP Environmental Science in high school, and it was the final push I needed to pursue Sustainability Science. I chose to concentrate in Agroecology because I’ve always loved working with plants and food systems.

Tell us about your experience as the student farm manager.

As the student farm manager of the Stockton Sustainability Farm, I spend more time on the farm than the average student, and I am expected to understand and perform more tasks than the average student. I should know the layout of the farm, have a grasp of daily tasks and a sense of what needs to be done each day. I do most things ranging from seeding/transplanting plants into beds, prepping beds for planting by tilthing (not tilling!) raking, wood chipping and adding compost to them, harvesting, cleaning and weighing any number of crops, using the tractor, trellising plants and weeding. We use no chemical pesticides or herbicides and no synthetic fertilizers. It’s been a wonderful hands-on experience to work alongside faculty who fully understand sustainable agriculture. I didn’t realize how much I’ve learned until I’ve spoken to someone who’s unfamiliar with it. Being able to do hands-on work allows me to see sustainable agriculture in action and will aid me in future career endeavors. Working on the farm has brought a lot of joy into my life and I feel really accomplished at the end of each day.

What are your career goals?

I think New Jersey is certainly a great farming state, but I have my heart set on settling in Vermont, particularly Burlington. It’s close enough to home and is known for implementing a lot of sustainable practices in its towns. I would be happy to continue to work in food systems, including sustainable agriculture. I would also love to explore agricultural entomology, working with insects and pest management in sustainable agriculture. One of my goals is to get my master’s degree in entomology, or something closely related to that.

What advice do you have for students thinking about attending Stockton? 

I would tell students considering Stockton to go for it. I honestly was hesitant at first because Stockton is so close to home, but it has genuinely been so inspiring. I feel like I’m actually passionate now and care about what I am doing. I also think new students should know they are always allowed to ask for help, and that it’s not shameful or wrong to need assistance.