During December 2025, I spent three weeks volunteering on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Islands as a Klemm Fellow. My days were spent doing hands-on conservation work, including assisting at a giant tortoise breeding center, removing invasive plants in the highlands, monitoring sea lions and birds along the beaches, and participating in beach cleanups. I also helped paint murals at a local kindergarten attended by my host family's son, which allowed us to engage with the community and raise awareness about the islands' unique wildlife. Living with a local host family allowed me to experience daily life on the island and form meaningful connections beyond my volunteer work. The warmth and generosity of the community made the experience unforgettable and showed me how deeply conservation and people's lives are intertwined. Through these experiences, I gained a deeper appreciation for the effort required to protect fragile ecosystems and for the connection between environmental and human well-being.
Acknowledgements: I would like to sincerely thank the Klemm Family for generously sponsoring my time abroad and making this transformative experience in the Galápagos Islands possible.