6 Long Years ago...

[Smalls]

I set out on a mission over 6 years--to do something no one else in my family had done. That was to graduate from college. Both my parents had gone to school at different times, but never finished. I knew I wanted to be a wildlife biologist, so off to college it was to get a degree in wildlife management. So 3 1/2 years later, in December of 2010, I graduated with my B.S. in Wildlife Management and an Honors endorsement for meeting all the requirements of the McNeese Honors College. Got a nice big medal for that one. But I knew, in the field of wildlife, a B.S. was likely to get me a technician job. Not good enough.

So off to graduate school it was. I started working full-time at this point too, and luckily was able to do my research through my job. So after 2 1/2 more years of school, a successful thesis defense, an 80-page thesis, and 5 signatures later, I am set to graduate with my M.S. in Environmental and Chemical Sciences on saturday. This has been the greatest accomplishment in my life to date. To do something that no one in my family has done before, to be the only one in my fall 2007 freshman class to do this, it is a great feeling.

Now, I would just like to say thank you to the Salty Cajun Community for all those arguements over Coastal Restoration or whatever the discussion might have been. It was many of those conversations that drove me to do more research, and helped me further my thesis research, which was on that very subject as some of you might know. Strangely enough, I owe a lot of that to "W"altrip and the many times we have argued. So thanks guys, this may be one of the few times this is ever said on SC, but I've learned a lot of useful things from argueing with ya'll. :*****:

[swamp snorkler]

Good to hear, good luck in your future endeavors

[BassAssasin]

Very ameswome!!!! Your work ethic will take you farther than anything!!! Congrats !!

[aquaholic]

Congrats. More education is never a bad thing. Best of luck in all your future endeavors!! Awesome job !

[southern151]

That's an amazing feat! Best wishes to you!

[meaux fishing]

Congrats!! I would be interested to read your research if your thesis is published anywhere. I'm not a biologist but thats a subject I'm interested in.

[BloodKnot]

Congrats! That is a great accomplishment.

[Matt G]

Congrats man!! No matter what you do in life, no one can ever take those accomplishments away from you.

[Super Spook]

Congrats man that's awesome!

[Tomball Tiger]

Congrats to you Smalls!

[Smalls]

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by meaux fishing

Congrats!! I would be interested to read your research if your thesis is published anywhere. I'm not a biologist but thats a subject I'm interested in.

Meaux, we will be working on getting it ready for publication this summer. I think one chapter will have a pretty good shot at getting published, possibly in the Wetlands journal. The other chapter is on theoretic modeling, so it will be alittle harder to get to publication.



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[ckinchen]

Congrats Smalls, I suspect you will have many more accomplishments throughout your career with the work ethic you have exhibited.

[mriguy]

Congrats Smalls!!

[Duck Butter]

Congratulations, the field you are in will be around for a good while and you are working for a good cause

[biggun]

Congrat.'s to U...

[Slidellkid]

Congratulations!

[bjqx]

Nice job congrat's

[MarshRat89]

That's awesome man!

[dmtfish]

Congrats Smalls! Good luck to you, sounds like you are very driven, we need guys like you working on our coast!

[simplepeddler]

Gongratulations man.......I especially like the statement...."greatest accomlishement in my life TO DATE...."

We look forward to many more great things from you.....!!! Our coast need guys like you.