University Honors & Undergraduate Research Program

As our trip to Capitol Reef began, I was worried I would feel overwhelmed by restlessness and a sense of not belonging as we entered a completely new environment. However, once we stepped foot into the park and I was granted the opportunity to view its gorgeous landscapes, any anxiety I had left me. With every exploration and hike I took with my peers, I felt awe and excitement.

The park's red rock canyons, arches, and star-lit skies were features that I will remember forever. Every turn I took revealed a new view, and rather than feeling out of place, I felt connected to the environment around me.

When admiring the scenery around me, I felt a sense of being freed. Out there, there is no judgment, no righteousness, or no need to belong to something bigger than myself. Before this trip, my mind was filled with routine thoughts: I was often thinking about my next goal, the future, or what test I had to study for next. But there, sitting on a rock, listening to the stream blow, tranquility took over. At home, I am afraid of the quiet and being alone with my thoughts, yet there, I adored it.

Connecting with nature was a meaningful experience that allowed me to embrace the wilderness around me.

One morning, Dr. Egan had us sit near a river in the park, close our eyes, and try to feel everything around us. Being one with the environment is tricky; as humans, we stick out like sore thumbs. Regardless, I tried, attempting to be in harmony with the water, rocks, and sand.

The water is relentless, running down a stream for what feels like eternity. The rocks, although difficult to stand on, lay harmoniously in or next to the water. The sound of the water streaming down was wonderfully relaxing. Touch, too, was wonderful: the water was cold and fast, and the sand was fine, adopting a new shape as my feet lay upon it. This exercise was different, yet relaxing. It allowed me to slow down and focus on nothing else than writing down these thoughts.

It is human nature to want to understand the unknown. This curiosity explains why we have names for structures and hues. I find this interesting – how we need to have a name and definition for everything. We crave certainty and structure; we form orders and classify organisms by species and morphology. This classification aspect of human nature is almost selfless. How we make universal languages through this classifying and identifying is pretty remarkable.

The petroglyphs on the rock gave us a glimpse into the eras before us. The drawings were diverse and often told stories of the cultures that lived on the land at different times. It was wonderful to see that, although we never met these communities, they continue to leave an impact on Utah and its people.

Before Capitol Reef National Park, my life was filled with worry, exams, and eye strain. My only goal in life was to become a physician. When applying to Partners in the Parks, I did not realize the impact the landscape and the people I met would have on me, and I would not change it for the world. Through this experience, I learned why it is essential to conserve areas that have such a significant impact on a wide range of species. Keeping places intact allows for history to sustain its richness for future generations.

During the trip, my peers and I had the opportunity to work with volunteers on a service project focused on restorative cleaning and non-destructive graffiti removal in the red-rock canyons of CRNP. With these volunteers, we made our way through the canyon, finding graffiti and covering it with dirt. This method allowed us to cover the graffiti with a material similar to the rock, making it look as if nothing was there. I had a great time during this project, and felt as if I was making an impact in preserving the park’s natural landmarks.