The summer is drawing to a close. It was a great experience being at the Arnold Arboretum but I didn't see the same personal growth that the farm brought me last year. I shouldn't have really expected it. This internship honed my skills as a horticulturalist while last year's let me develop into the more confident, well-rounded individual that I am today.
I have to say I did get a great kick out of doing plant things all summer. I learned that I really don't mind landscape maintenance as much as I thought I would. I LOVE climbing trees. (Not just for fun type climbing but using real ropes and and a saddle) I cemented the realization that enjoying work is really about enjoying the people more than anything else. All in all I think I learned a lot more than I realize right now. You can't really top the clout that the institution has or that the insanely valuable collections that I got to play in all summer some people only dream of getting to delve into.
So what's next? My last semester of Clemson will be chaotic. I'm taking 5 classes, working 20 (or more) hours a week, making a trip home for labor day, taking a week-long trip to Indy to volunteer for FFA nationals, and trying to find employment for after graduation. I'm still not really sure where to move when I graduate so I think I'll leave that up to job-fate. All I know is that I'm ready to be out on my own and stop mooching off of my parents!
