ANNA HARPER
A Chat with Graduate Student Anna
Where are you from? and what do you miss most about your hometown?
I am from Atlanta, Georgia. I miss my family and friends the most, and also the good Southern food.
What drew you to Geology and Atmospheric Science?
Growing up, I used to spend weekends at my grandmother's house in the north Georgia mountains. I loved exploring the woody hillsides and creek near her house. Those hikes sparked my interest in earth science because I was very interested in how and why everything in the woods were the way they were.
Why did you decide to move to Colorado?
Chris (my husband) and I wanted to live closer to the mountains, plus I knew that there were a handful of good schools near Fort Collins where I could go to graduate school. We had family friends who couldn't say enough good things about Ft Collins, so we came out here for a weekend, fell in love with the area, and moved out two weeks later. So I moved here before even applying for graduate school, which is probably the opposite of how most people come to CSU. We also considered moving to Salt Lake City and Boise, but have never regretted our decision to come here!
What is your all-time favorite thing to do?
I love to go for a bike ride, or to relax with a good book. Of course, rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs!
Why do you love Georgia Football so much?
I think one reason is because I had so much fun going to UGA and going to games while I was a student. So I feel very connected to Georgia. There is something really exciting about cheering for a team you love.
What is one thing you've done in your life that you are surprised by?
My best friend and I spent 4 months working in England after college. Almost everything we did was completely spontaneous, which meant we were often pleasantly surprised but we also had several mishaps. Our first job lasted less than 2 days because we were working double shifts at a hotel in the middle of nowhere in northern England. We came to work but we also wanted to travel, so that just wasn't going to work! So we left late one night, and ended up working at a Starbucks in Oxford! It was a really awesome experience overall .
What is one place you would love to travel to? and why
There are so many places! I went to the Swiss Alps last year, and I'd love to go back there and why not explore northern Italy while I'm at it.
What do you love about being a graduate student?
I'm really happy right now! I enjoy my research topic - studying the Amazon is fascinating to me - and I enjoy the opportunity to learn as much as I can in classes. I enjoy the process of research - asking questions, searching for answers, and discussions with others.
In 10 years where do you see yourself?
I think eventually Chris and I will want to be closer to our families in Georgia, so maybe in 10 years we'll be back in the South, and I'll be working at a research University in a cool college town. I'd also love to
have a couple of kids by then, too.
What is your long-term career goal?
I'd like to become a professor eventually, because I really enjoying teaching, but I also love doing research, so I hope I can find something where I can balance those two passions. There will probably be phases in my career when I do more of one than the other, but as long as I'm doing something I love I'll be happy.
Do you have any advice for an incoming graduate student?
My advice is to be ready to work hard - the first year you'll have a lot of studying and homework to do. But be sure to enjoy time off now and then, too, for your own mental health, and take advantage of all the new people you'll meet. The people you start grad school with could end up being your friends and collaborators for the rest of your life!
