I am a political theory and constitutional democracy major and participating in the environmental studies in Costa Rica study abroad program was life changing. As a non-science major experiencing the vast biodiversity and different ecosystems found in Costa Rica I came to realize the total interdependence of the natural world. Hiking through dry forests, neo-tropical rainforests, and littoral zones I was able to observe how much impact humans have on the natural environment and how much we rely on it for our survival and progress. I came to the realization that even though the natural environment has evolved to be resilient, it is still undeniably fragile.

This is why it is imperative that efforts like INBio (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad) succeed in cataloguing huge quantities of unknown species in Costa Rica and protecting the process of evolution in order to help sustain life on earth. By bringing people from the government and the private sector together to research and protect the environment programs like these offer a new framework for appreciating and using the natural world.

In Costa Rica our group was able to see how these types of partnerships benefit the economy, the culture, and the integrity of the environment. During the program I was also made aware of the great impact that travel can have on the environment.

The concept of "ecotourism" made its way into my vocabulary while I visited Costa Rica. The idea behind this concept is to protect natural ecosystems and species by taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem while traveling to natural areas. Ecotourists, like our group, strive to understand the culture and natural history of the environment and produce economic opportunities that make preservation of natural resources beneficial for the local people. Costa Rica has been at the forefront of promoting this type of eco-friendly travel.

Personally experiencing the glory of the biodiversity and ecological purity in Costa Rica has had an impact on my life goals. After studying in Costa Rica I can see how environmentalism is a multi-disciplinary endeavor. I now know how I can contribute to a sustainable society both personally and academically through my world-view and actions. Seeing how Costa Rican society and government have worked to catalogue unidentified species, preserve the integrity of ecosystems, and regulate ecotourism has provided a model that I will use as I work to help people appreciate, protect, and use appropriately our natural resources around the globe.

"All things by immortal power
Near or far
Hiddenly
To each other linked are,
That thou canst not stir a flower
Without troubling of a star."
-Francis Thompson