Abby Watson knew she wanted to study geology at UL Lafayette after she visited Hamilton Hall on campus.
СAPPI saw all the cases of minerals around the building, and I was like, СAPPOh my God, I get to learn all of this,СAPPСAPP she said. СAPPI was drawn to looking at all the beautiful minerals they have on display, and was like, СAPPOne day I will know exactly what that isСAPP СAPP and I do now, which is really awesome.СAPP
Getting hands-on experience in geology
As a geology major, Abby gets hands-on experiences in her classes, thanks to partnerships and experiences that take her into the field.
Researching at the Geology Museum
Through the School of Geosciences, Abby volunteers once a week with her classmates at the , which is inside the Lafayette Science Museum in downtown Lafayette. She learned about the opportunity from her advisor.
As a volunteer, she looks for fossils in the Geology MuseumСAPPs lab under the direction of Dr. James Martin.
СAPPWhatever we find, we show Dr. Martin, and heСAPPs like, СAPPThis is the jawbone of this kind of fish,СAPPСAPP Abby said. СAPPAnd IСAPPm just shocked, because this is a million-year-old fossil СAPP how do you know that? HeСAPPs a genius.
"It gets you experience and gets you involved.СAPP
Traveling across the U.S. for Field Camp
All geology majors at UL Lafayette are required to take the over one summer СAPP an experience Abby is really looking forward to.
СAPPIt's six weeks of road tripping around the country, setting up a tent and looking at rock formations,СAPP she said. СAPPIСAPPm so excited, especially since IСAPPm going to do it with that same group of people IСAPPve been with through the program.СAPP
Finding opportunities to get involved
Abby found the best way to get the most out of her education at UL Lafayette was to become involved, starting with before her first semester.
СAPPSOUL Camp is the perfect way for any freshman, especially anyone nervous about starting college, to get acquainted with the СAPP,СAPP she said.
СAPPYou meet so many people, so you start off with friends instead of starting college alone. It was a really fun camp, and I really enjoyed meeting all those different people.СAPP
Taking that first step to get involved has led to other opportunities for Abby outside her major, too. She does community service every year with and has been a member of .
СAPPBeing in a choir really helps with public speaking and public confidence,СAPP she said. СAPPOther than that, I really love to sing, and everyone is so talented. To look back at a performance and realize I did that, even though itСAPPs not my major and it was a really hard piece СAPP itСAPPs really rewarding.СAPP
A close-knit campus
AbbyСAPPs favorite part about UL Lafayette, though, has been the friends sheСAPPs made through the geology major and in other groups on campus.
Living on campus her first year let her meet more people and experience more of the СAPP than she expected.
She loved living on a campus with beautiful oak trees and plants СAPP plus, СAPPNothing is more than 20 minutes away. ItСAPPs the perfect size for a university to be.СAPP
And living on campus helped her make friends more easily.
СAPPOne of the best parts about living on campus was that I met my roommate and suitemates, and theyСAPPre really the best,СAPP she said. СAPPWe got along so well that I still see them all the time now.СAPP
SheСAPPs also become close with her classmates and professors in the geology program.
СAPPI do feel like IСAPPm getting a more personal education here, especially in the geology program,СAPP she said. СAPPI have classes with the same people and our professors know us all personally by name СAPP and even know our family members now. I really feel at home with them because I get to see them over and over again, I know how they teach, I know who they are, and I know their personalities.СAPP
