A Life-Changing and Transformative Experience September 11, 2025

I was originally supposed to study abroad with Round River in Mongolia in the summer of 2020, but the global pandemic changed those plans. After graduating in 2024 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, I was looking for opportunities to gain field experience in conservation, and I was, in general, contemplating future career and graduate school options. I decided to see if Round River would have me back as a recently graduated student - and I am so incredibly lucky that they did. The Mongolia program truly changed my life, enhanced my worldview and sense of purpose/self, and absolutely changed the trajectory of my career. I gained valuable field research skills, and I learned what it truly means to be a Conservation Biologist, to be a Naturalist, and to be in pursuit of practicing science in reciprocity with the land. The emphasis on local leadership from the Darhad Valley, combined with our incredible instructors, created the richest, most immersive, holistic, and transformative education I have ever received. A constant focus on the interweaving of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science was at the heart of all we did, and I learned how to approach conservation through a lens that beautifully synthesizes both of those worlds. I will carry the lessons from the Darhad Valley and the people/beings who call it home with me for the rest of my life, and will always hold my Round River experience close to my heart as a beacon that guides my winding path.