After graduating in May 2012, I was offered an internship with Dawood Engineering, Inc. out of their Enola, PA office. I spent two months exclusively in the field performing wetland delineations at gas well pad sites in the Northern Tier of PA. I was excited for the opportunity because my goal was to land a job in the private sector, and I wanted to know more about field work in the marcellus shale industry since it was always a hot topic in class. My position with Dawood became full-time at the end of August, and my official title is now Environmental Technician. In addition to delineating wetlands, I also conduct Phase I Bod Turtle Habitat Surveys, write technical reports, conduct Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, and research oil and gase regulations in states surrounding Pennsylvania. So far, I've really enjoyed my position. I get to travel throughout the state for various projects, there's always variety in my work load, and my company supports professional growth in their employees by covering the costs of professional certifications and training. My education at Penn State has been beneficial towards my professional career, and I encourage all current students to set post-graduation career goals and start working towards them while still in school. Although technical knowledge is important in the environmental field, it's also very important to focus on communication skills as technical writing and working on a team are important aspects of my job. TWS is a great way to get involved in the environmental field and develop those essential skills!