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James Tsou-Wong

Student Profile

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James Tsou-Wong

Minnesota Studies for International Development through Penn State Eduation Abroad, Fall 2005/Spring 2006
Science

When I came to Penn State, I knew that I wanted to study abroad in Africa in the field of conservation and ecology. However I wanted to do more than study, I wanted to go and actually do hands-on work in conservation in Africa and that was when I heard about the Co-op Program at Penn State. Upon learning more about it I immediately realized that this program could help me achieve my goals of working in conservation, however none of the opportunities that I found were abroad in Africa. At the same time as I was examining the Co-op Program, I found a study abroad program in Kenya (the Minnesota Studies for International Development), which focused specifically on providing an internship experience in a developing country such as Kenya. I then approached the Co-op Office to see if I could use this experience to meet one of my co-op semester requirements. This proposal was supported, and we took care of the process of getting the experience approved for the program. Thus began one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

In Kenya I worked with the World Wildlife Fund at Lake Bogoria National Reserve in the Great Rift Valley as part of the Lake Bogoria Integrated Management Plan. There I assisted in a host of community development projects aimed at conserving the wetlands, such as soil erosion and socio-economic surveys, outreach programs teaching children, action plans for local environmental committees, and so forth. The most important part of this experience however is that it gave me first-hand experience in working with a community-based conservation project in a developing country, an experience few in college get. I also proved to myself that I can survive in very difficult conditions in a culture and environment completely different from anything that I had ever experienced and was amazed at how much I learned and was able to do. When the program ended the only regret that I had was that I couldn't stay longer and contribute more. I realized that what I had just experienced is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I am now completing my final semester of co-op for the summer at Dinosaur National Monument in Dinosaur, Colorado, and look forward to further enhancing my knowledge in conservation and biology. For the future I plan to get into a graduate program in field ecology that will take me back to Eastern or Southern Africa to study. As I prepare to graduate I am thankful that I was able to participate in the Co-op Program, which helped me to turn my experience in Kenya into one that I can use for the future to open many more doors and opportunities.