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Mariah DeLosSantos, the Baylor University Sustainability in North Queensland student blogger, writes

Hi, my name is Mariah De Los Santos, a sophomore Environmental Science major at Baylor University. This summer of 2016, I have the amazing opportunity to travel abroad to North Queensland, Australia with my university to study environmental sustainability and conservation while gaining the experience of a lifetime!

Growing up in the small suburbs of Houston, TX, I have never been outside of North America. Before College, I took my first trip out of the United States to Cozumel, Mexico with my best friend, and that trip changed my life. I got to jump out of my comfort zone and experience other cultures. In Cozumel, I swam with dolphins, snorkeled with thousands of tropical fish, saw the Mayan ruins, and drove around the island. Ever since that trip I have had a burning desire to expand my boundaries even further and travel all over the world.

Over the next month I will get to explore the network of national parks, reserves, offshore islands, and coastal areas of North Queensland.  In the field, we will snorkel and explore the marine diversity of the Great Barrier Reef, learn about the culture and history through interactions with indigenous communities, investigate natural resource management, ecotourism and farming practices in the bushlands, and hike through the tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area to study the diverse flora and fauna of Australia!!

Since getting my first camera 6 years ago, I’ve had a strong passion for photography and videography. I’ve gained a whole new perspective while looking at the world through the lens of a camera and seeing the world through different angles. Being able to stop time and capture images or create videos and let my family see the world through my eyes is so cool.

During this trip I plan to document every minute of my journey so that you may see the beauty and adventures that I am experiencing from the comfort of your own home. In doing this I will be able to cherish these memories forever, and also, share them with you. Let’s enjoy the adventure together!