Katie Armstrong, the Buckeyes Abroad North Queensland Sustaining Human Societies and the Natural Environment 2015 student blogger, writes:

It was during my junior year of high school that I really began to appreciate the value of education and knowledge. While I have always been motivated to maintain good grades, like many high-school students I followed a pattern of memorizing, testing, and then forgetting. All of a sudden I realized this was useless. This valuable information had gone in and out of my head in a matter of weeks. So now I have a passion for learning that pushes me out of my comfort zone; study abroad.

This summer I will be studying sustainability in North Queensland, and although my study abroad program will not directly relate to my major of Business Marketing, I could not pass up the opportunity to learn about sustainability in Australia. One of the biggest appeals for me and what I am most looking forward to, is snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. Although I have been snorkeling several times, I have yet to explore deeper and learn about our oceans. Like many of us, when I snorkeled I simply viewed the fish and coral without learning anything about them, and I am excited to rectify that.

In these three and a half weeks in Australia, I know that I will learn more about the environment, sustainability and Australian culture than I ever could from a textbook. Now that the trip has begun, I am eager to experience the beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife, forge new friendships, and gain an immense amount of knowledge. Let the journey begin!