that will encapsulate my journey from motivation and curiosity to uncertainty
and finding my place. I will take you on an in-depth emotional story of my fellowship.
I’ve been working closely with my mentor, Lawrence Lujuan, and we are a part of the People
and Cultural Transformation (PACT) team. The team's mission is to foster a diverse, equitable,
inclusive, and accessible workplace for employees to thrive. My work with my mentor has taught
me new skills such as creating and developing social media content, communication strategies, and
collaborating with a team to organize and develop a SharePoint Site. 

Before I joined the team, I was searching for a job opportunity that would allow me to transition from
the food service industry into a career that would give me more purpose and align more closely with
my values of serving others and protecting nature.

Despite my lack of educational experience, most of my work experience was serving others by
preparing food, providing exceptional service, and assuming leadership roles. When I discovered the
job posting, I was unsure if my qualifications aligned with the job. However, I knew I would work in an
industry that aligned with my values. I was more than willing to learn and excited to expand my skills
and find a lifelong career with the USDA Forest Service.

I had my initial interview, which I was quite nervous about, but I felt like I represented myself to the
best of my ability. A few weeks after my interview, I received a warm welcome into my role and
began the onboarding process.

Please continue reading the upcoming blog posts to follow my journey. Next, I'll explain my
connection to nature and what inspired me to pursue the resource assistant internship.

“The Artist Next to the Artist Conk”
A self-portrait taken on a forest trail near Umpqua Lighthouse in Reedsport Oregon. Santos is
Pictured next to a large Artist's conk mushroom sitting on a tree stump.