 |
"Courses in Kenya taught me that science doesn't go by the book. You can read about theories in texts, but nothing in conservation or wildlife management ever comes in a neatly wrapped package. One's problem solving skills really need to be applied when dealing with environmental concerns, especially in developing countries."
Name: Allison Crosby
SFS Program: Kenya, Spring '03; Kenya 25th Anniversary Trip, January '06
Education: Smith College, 2004, BA in Biological Sciences; Tufts University, 2008, MS in Biology with a concentration in Conservation and the Environment
Current Position: Clinical Research Coordinator at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Why did you choose SFS as a study abroad program?
I'd wanted to go to Kenya since seventh grade, so when choosing a college, I was sure to pick a place where studying in Kenya would be a possibility. When researching programs, SFS was the most appealing, everything about it really, from the pictures online of the camps to the exciting courses offered to the fact that SFS was affiliated with my school, so grades and payments would carryover seamlessly.
What is your most profound or lasting memory from your SFS program?
I have the most beautiful memories from Kenya. They're full of perfect sunsets and sunrises, friends who were more like family while we were abroad, of great trips and places we visited, but one of my most profound memories occurred in a maize field outside Amboseli National Park. A woman I had just interviewed about human wildlife conflict grabbed my arm as I turned to leave her field, which had been trampled by elephants the night before. She asked me through a translator "How are YOU going to help me?" It broke my heart to have to tell her the truth, which was "I'm so sorry, I don't know." I told her that we were interviewing farmers in the area for school so that we could try to come up with a solution to the human-wildlife conflict that she faced every day, but that we had no quick solution. That woman accepted that answer as a good one and said that she hoped we would find an answer soon. I hoped that day that the next time I came back to Kenya I would have a better answer than "I don't know."
Reflecting back on your time in the program, what did you gain from your SFS experience?
SFS Kenya had a huge impact on my life. It gave me much more hands-on experience in the field than I could have gained at school, and having that kind of exposure to field research led to two great summer jobs in the biology field. SFS helped me direct my biology studies as well; while Smith offers an amazing amount of courses for its size, SFS helped me focus on wildlife management and conservation, something that wasn't available at a smaller school. Courses in Kenya taught me that science doesn't go by the book. You can read about theories in texts, but nothing in conservation or wildlife management ever comes in a neatly wrapped package. One's problem solving skills really need to be applied when dealing with environmental concerns, especially in developing countries. In addition, the program in Kenya greatly increased my passion for human health and wellness. While I went to Kenya to study animals and their habitats, I fell in love with the people there, and visiting their homes, towns, hospitals and schools made me understand their living situations and daily life much better than I ever could have by reading a book or watching a movie. I think SFS taught me to have compassion for all of humanity, even for those living continents away.
What advice would you give to a prospective SFS student?
I would tell prospective SFS students not to let their fear of the unknown keep them from trying something new. I was terrified to go to Kenya for a whole semester! Luckily my desire to go was far greater than the fear. Every experience with SFS was a learning experience, and honestly, if I had let fear dictate my time in Kenya I would not have had half the fun, so get out there and try something new (of course that being said I would like to say that the SFS program is incredibly SAFE!).
What do you do for work?
I am a clinical research coordinator at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and run a Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma database for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
What does that actually entail on a daily basis?
The NCCN NHL Database tracks patient disease, treatments, and disease outcomes, so I am usually scouring medical records looking for chemotherapy, radiation, tests, and treatment responses a patient had at the Institute. I also screen the records of all of the new lymphoma patients that walk through our door for eligibility (the database collects only certain NHL subtypes). And of course, there are always meetings to attend and self-motivated research to do so I can further my understanding of NHL, its treatments and the nature of cancer itself.
Did your SFS experience contribute to where you ended up?
My SFS experience did not directly contribute to where I ended up, but it has been a great conversation starter at job interviews! Actually, the 2006 reunion trip to Kenya had a great deal of influence on my decision to go back to school. I had just been rejected from a local university on the grounds that they did not have "adequate staff" to meet my research needs, and I thought my hopes of becoming a conservation biologist were over. When I went back to Kenya, the trip participants sat in the chumba (the main building at the Kilimanjaro Bush Camp site) and we talked a little bit about ourselves. So many of the men and women there were in the conservation field! After that I stopped making excuses, applied to Tufts and seven days later was accepted into their master's program. Having SFS on my application to Tufts definitely made an impression there too. Now I'm 3/4 of the way done and will be getting my MS in Biology with a concentration in Conservation and the Environment next May.
What are the two most essential skills that got you to your position?
The two most essential skills that got me to my position without a doubt were willingness and eagerness to learn and the ability to multitask. When I interviewed at Dana Farber I knew very little about cancer and almost nothing about NHL, but I was very open about that with my future boss. I told her that I was a fast learner and voracious reader and I was ready to learn whatever I needed to do my job well. My second day on the job I found a six-inch stack of literature on my desk! Multitasking effectively is another essential skill. There are so many facets of my job that if let one go while I give my full attention to another, I could fall months behind, so it's incredibly important for me to be able to do a lot at once. That's proved helpful in life as well, especially with working full time and going to school!
What advice do you have for other SFS alumni looking to get into your field? What do you wish someone told you?
If other SFS Alumni were trying to get into the field, I would first tell them that if they want an advanced degree, don't be afraid to go back to school. I knew I needed to work while in school and thought that there wouldn't be any possible way to do it, but I sat down with my employer and with my academic advisors at Tufts and we made it work. Something can always be worked out. Also, the field of Conservation Biology is a relatively new one and new organizations are popping up all the time that specialize in this field. Even companies that have been around for years are integrating biologists into their work force as environmental issues become more of a "mainstream" concern, and not just limited to scientists. Talk to SFS and college alums about this and network, you never know who you might bump into and for all you know, there's someone out there looking for the specific skill set you have, even if it's not strictly a conservation biology degree. I used to wish that someone had told me that it would've been much easier to go right from college to a master's program, but in retrospect, working at Dana Farber has changed me in many good ways and I've learned such an incredible amount here that I'm grateful for the experience. I think I wish now that someone had told me not to feel pressured by what my peers were doing or by a certain timeframe for earning my degree. I would've relaxed a little more!
Group photo from the Kenya 25th Anniversary Trip January '06
|
|