Hi everyone! My name is Awanti Desai and I am an intern at the student farm for summer 2023. I am an Economics major with a minor in Sustainability Leadership. I am from California and transferred from World Campus to University Park this past spring.
Prior to transferring, I had no idea what direction I wanted to take with my major and had not declared a minor. I had always been interested in sustainability, food systems, and the environment. Upon learning about the Sustainability Leadership minor, I knew that this was something I wanted to pursue. Part of the requirements to successfully complete the minor is an internship. As a new student at University Park, I am so glad to have found the Student Farm Club which in turn led me to my internship this summer at the Student Farm.
I have always loved exploring the outdoors and learning about our environment. Unlike some of the interns on the farm, I had practically no experience working in agriculture. Despite having no idea what to expect, I have quickly fallen in love with the farm. I have already learned so much about agriculture, food systems, and our community. Being so new to both the state and University Park, I am so grateful to have found a community that has not only been extremely welcoming, but also shares similar values that I can learn from.
To me, a community is a group of individuals who are connected through a shared set of values, customs, or goals. I am lucky to have found the Student Farm community. I’ve been able to learn about how the student farm engages with the State College area to provide produce to students and residents of the area. Learning about the process of growing and harvesting to packing and delivering has helped me gain a greater appreciation for agricultural production. In the future, I want to get involved with learning about and implementing sustainable agricultural practices back home, in California. Living so close to LA, I’ve seen the homeless crisis grow over the past decade. I have always wanted to help, but never knew what I could do. Now upon learning about food security and how the Student Farm is able to donate to places such as the Lion’s Pantry, it has inspired me to get more involved in my community. I have learned a lot through my internship so far, but I would say the biggest takeaway is learning how to implement sustainable practices and discover opportunities to engage with my community. Whether it is through our Student Farm or elsewhere, I think it is important for everyone to find these opportunities in their own community.