Dr. Seuss once wrote, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
In elementary school, I wondered where I would go and what college would be like. College seemed so far away. The years between me and college felt like a vast stretch of mountains and valleys separating me from my future self, who I envisioned would be doing calculus and organic chemistry, thinking about medical school, and starting a career.
As a young naturalist, I fell in love with plants, trees, and the outdoors. In my small, rural hometown, I collected acorns and leaves during my free time. I read books about bugs and drew with crayons the towering slopes of Colorado. I didn’t travel, but I loved seeing new things.
In particular, I enjoyed learning about plants. I wondered why, how, and where plants grew. I was captivated by their shapes and sizes, and I preferred nothing more than to go outside and explore wild plants in their natural habitats.
When I got older, I started growing plants. I was interested in how they developed from seed to maturity, why they could be propagated, why cold stratification helped with seed germination, the science of composting, and soil science. The delicate relationship between a developing plant, microbes, and the earth captivated me.
When I came to college, I finally had the opportunity to study plants seriously. I took a freshman seminar called “Tree,” where we studied the history, biology, and socioethnic implications of arborescence. Now, as a senior, I’m taking a plant biology class exploring the evolution and morphology of plants, as well as a biochemistry class about how natural products from plants and animals inform our medicines.
Before I knew it, I was visiting conservatories, botanical gardens, and national parks across the country. I realized college is a place where interests can turn into field trips and ventures into the unknown. In this blog, I share how my interests in college took me across the country to visit some of the most beautiful places nature has to offer.
The Arnold Arboretum and Mount Auburn Cemetery
I wrote one of my first blogs on a class called “Tree.” The freshman seminar class helped me get accustomed to college and meet friends who loved plants as much as I did.
We took weekly trips to the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard’s tree conservatory, and I visited the Mount Auburn Cemetery every weekend to watch a dawn redwood tree as it changed with the seasons. To this day, “Tree” is one of my favorite classes at Harvard.
Since then, I’ve visited the Arnold Arboretum and Mount Auburn Cemetery countless times. I’ve visited the Arnold Arboretum with friends, returned for “Tree” reunions, and gone on my own to see the changing of the seasons.
I’ve returned to Mount Auburn Cemetery even more because it is so close—twice to practice wildlife photography, several times to walk around, and a few times to visit my dawn redwood tree.
Over the years, the Arnold Arboretum and Mount Auburn Cemetery have become my favorite places to visit. They bring me back to my first year, and—somehow—I see something new every time I go.
To Acadia National Park
The first time I traveled outside of Massachusetts during a spring break, I was in a packed SUV, cruising along the highway toward Maine. My blocking group and I had planned a trip to Acadia National Park—our first off-campus trip together. We made our way to our cabins, situated in fantastic views of the nearby trees and mountains, and settled down before starting the day.
On our trip, we decided to hike up the Beehive Trail. The cliff was steep, and we hung onto iron rungs as we pulled ourselves up. By the time we got to the top, we could see almost all of the park and the ocean’s horizon in the distance. The view was breathtaking.
Along the coast, we caught a glimpse of the rocks that lined the shore. We found seaweed scattered along the evergreen peninsulas, and we could smell the salty air. Walking along the coast was an experience like no other. Our walk ended with watching the sunset as the waves crashed onto the rocks below.
When we got back, we started a campfire. Well...we tried to start a campfire. Our firewood was sappy, so catching it felt nearly impossible. We tried everything for tinder—semi-dried grasses, leaves, and sticks nearby—before moving on to toilet paper, sheets of homework paper, marshmallows, and even bagels. We ran our lighter dry before we finally got the firewood to catch (it took an hour and a half). Well, that was one way to say goodbye to schoolwork.
Yet, that night couldn’t have been any better. We toasted our remaining marshmallows and bagels by the fire. One of my friends brought a guitar, and we jammed out into the night. That was one of the best experiences I’ve had in college—nothing short of fantastic.
Then, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks
Little did I know, one year later, I’d find myself with my blockmates in a car again. This time, we were far from Boston—we had flown to Las Vegas the night before, reorganized our suitcases, picked up canned and dried groceries, and headed toward the rocks at Zion National Park. We were going on another blocking group trip—this time in Utah.
We arrived to mule deer grazing at the park entrance and towering red rocks that seemed too close. This was where we’d be staying for the next few days. I was in awe.
We settled down at our campsite for our first night. We made our tents, then before we knew it, we were marching up the Watchman Trail beside the campground to watch the sunset.
In the coming days, we saw waterfalls at the Emerald Pools.
And the daunting heights of the West Rim Trail.
We trekked the depths of Zion’s famous Narrows and ended our trip at the gift shop.
Next up? We drove the flatlands to Bryce Canyon National Park. It snowed on the day we arrived, but it was beautiful, nonetheless. The hoodoos jutted up from the rocky layers like people, and while we nearly froze at the highest point, it was well worth the wait (and the cold).
Off and away!
These trips were like living in a fantasy. In Utah, the mountains I drew as a kid came to life.
All the snow-capped peaks, vast stretches of flatlands, cacti and desert plants, and valleys were no longer a figment of my imagination. I got to explore the outdoors with a group of friends I loved, and we plan to keep the streak going. We’re hoping to visit everywhere from Yosemite and Yellowstone to Sequoia and the Great Smoky Mountains—after we all graduate from college this year!
Yes, we all had a senior thesis to finish. And yes, we were all busy up to the moment we stepped onto the plane to Las Vegas. Yet, it was worth it—it was a trip of a lifetime.
As Dr. Seuss wrote:
You're off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
I can't wait for the next mountain. What a great send-off!
Shoutout to my blockmates for being awesome camping and hiking partners! Your positive spirit and attitude made our trips incredible experiences. Looking forward to exploring the rest of the country’s national parks together!
