Henry David THOREAU FOUNDATION -
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Published on: 12/20/2006
Last Visited: 11/17/2007
Julie E. EricksonMiddlebury College
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Julie enjoys the view from the top of Mt. Abraham (affectionately known as Mt. Abe, a popular peak on the Long Trail in Lincoln, VT, about a 40-minute drive from Middlebury).
Close to 20 students from Western Massachusetts have been selected as Henry David Thoreau Scholars.Three of them have come from Mohawk Trail Regional High School in Shelburne Falls.Among them is Julie Erickson.One of her teachers there described her as "a go-getter--the kind of person who makes things happen."Indeed, Julie is afire with imagination and energy.
Growing up in Colrain, she kindled her passion for studying the environment during her junior year of high school.She journeyed to Costa Rica on an environmental education and cultural exchange.The journey was organized by The Global Classroom."As cliche as it sounds, this trip was quite eye-opening and truly life-changing for me.I was astonished at how amazingly alive and pulsing with life the cloud forest of Monteverde was and found the pristine reserve to be magical."
While in Costa Rica, Julie lived with a family in the town of Santa Elena."I discovered a new way of life, that in some ways seemed much more pure, simple, and certainly slower-paced than what I had become accustomed to growing up in the US.It helped facilitate all that I learned about myself and the world with enthusiasm, knowledge, passion, and a deep connection to the Earth.That perspective is something that I have adapted long-term (I must also give a bit of credit to the monkeys in the rain forest for sparking my long-lasting interest)."Collectively, her experiences abroad and in the classroom heightened her sense of urgency to do her part in addressing environmental problems.
At Middlebury, Julie is building and honing her environmental focus by taking a range of courses, including Invertebrate Biology, Spanish, Newtonian Physics, Modern History and the Culture of the Middle East, History of Africa, Rural Geography, and Human Ecology."I am still trying to decide whether I will concentrate on the more science-oriented or people-oriented aspect of environmental studies.It is more likely that I will end up getting very excited about both biology and geography, in which case I'll combine them in some way."
Julie also plays on the JV and intramural soccer teams, but finds that there are far more things happening on campus than she can fit into her schedule."I am hoping to get more involved in the Middlebury Mountain Club this year, especially in the fall, when conditions in Vermont are perfect for hiking and camping.During the winter I plan to spend time cross-country skiing and teaching lessons at the Middlebury Figure Skating Club."She is also dedicated to an organization called Mchakamchaka, a group of women who meet every Wednesday night and jog around campus singing African chants."I am not much of a singer, but I love Mchaka, especially on nights when I am loaded with work to do.I always drop everything and go at 9:30, no matter what."
In the summer of 2005, Julie conducted research with one of her professors, an aquatic ecologist and modeler."I worked on a project to introduce a native (North American) aquatic weevil as a biological control for the invasive aquatic plant Eurasian Watermilfoil."Her summer research experience heightened her interest in working in the environmental field, along with snorkeling in lakes throughout Vermont.She also aims to study in a Spanish-speaking country, most likely in South America."There is unparalleled beauty and diversity in tropical regions.I am also very interested in studying in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (especially West Africa).I took a beginning Swahili course and have been very interested in African culture and environmental issues ever since."
While her specific career is not yet determined, Julie will continue to find her environmental niche with travel, exploration, and meeting new and different people."I want to do these things with a certain attitude because I see all phases of my life as periods of both continuous learning and teaching."Her personal goals are demanding.She seeks a career "that will challenge and stretch my mind while also allowing me to share knowledge in a creative way and have positive impact on the lives of all creatures living on Earth, not just humans."
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Julie E. Erickson
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