F(air)well, EPA

Hello blog readers! I am sad to say that this is my last blog post, so I’m here to say farewell to the EPA.

State and Local Programs Group, AQPD, OAQPS, OAR

I couldn’t have asked for a better summer internship experience, and I am so thankful to have been able to work alongside these awesome people! This week, a co-worker of mine moved to a different division of OAQPS. Although he will still be at RTP (and only one building away), SLPG was very sad to see him leave, and I was reminded of how close this group is.

In addition to saying farewell, the interns participated in a service learning project in the butterfly garden this week. EPA’s campus is focused on maintaining the natural landscape as much as possible, so volunteers and staff help tend to the gardens and ensure a healthy habitat for various plant and animal species. The garden is a part of many “Pollinator Projects” across EPA facilities, which serve to protect pollinator species and increase awareness about their importance and contributions to agriculture.

Leafcutter bee in the pollinator garden at EPA’s RTP campus

I am trying to get back into “school mode” since fall semester is right around the corner. I’ve realized, though, that this is my last time buying textbooks, cleaning out my backpack, and checking the Sakai site for my class syllabus. The MPA program is going by just as quickly as this summer has, and I want to enjoy every minute of it. I am excited for the upcoming year as well as thankful to have had the opportunity to work at EPA. And I can’t wait to see where I go next!

One of my favorite spots at work is this small café nook on the first floor where a quote by Gaylord Nelson, former US Senator and founder of Earth Day, is displayed on the wall–“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”

I hope you enjoyed following along this summer! Thanks for reading!

Sydney