When
I look back even on this past year alone, there are long lasting
memories that I have shared countless laughs and memories with friends
not only from UF but from land grant universities
all across the United States and even other countries. Throughout my
undergraduate career in CALS I have traveled to a plethora of leadership
and academic conferences and competitions and met so many other
students. I still remember my first American Dairy
Science Association meeting when a friend of mine from LSU began talking
about palpating dairy cows like it was nothing to be ashamed about. The
light bulb clicked on! It was and still is the best feeling in the
world to speak with people your same age about
something you're passionate about. Normally, when I talk about cows in
general most people would stare at me as if I had three heads! I can't
even imagine if I had even attended (much less stepped foot on the
campus of) that other Florida university who shall
remain nameless and will probably lose in this weekend's football game,
and I tried finding someone as easily that was interested in dairy
cattle as much as I was! There are countless friendships
and acquaintances that I have made just by being a student in
CALS.
Service
is also something that we try to do more of during the holidays. I grew
up in a large scouting family where community service or any form of
service to others was a normal thing.
I enjoy that while in CALS service is once again a normalcy. One of the
greatest opportunities I've had as a CALS ambassador is selling coffee
for Alltech's Haiti Project and then taking a service trip to HAITI! Alltech
(an
animal health company) approached CALS at UF and Auburn’s College of
Agriculture with a challenge to sell Haitian coffee that would
completely benefit their Haiti project of improving the Agricultural
situations of their country. It
was
hands down the most amazing and life changing opportunity that I have
ever had while being a student in CALS! While down there we not only
learned a lot about the culture but taught children english, painted an
entire school, visited multiple schools, planted
coffee for the Haiti Project, hiked up a mountain to La Citadelle, and helped build chicken houses. We hope to continue helping Haiti as much as we can and to return in the near future.
YOU
can help too! CALS Ambassadors will be collecting gently used children
books by December 5th for anyone interested in getting involved to our
service to the children in Haiti. Books
can be dropped off to Charlotte Emerson in the Dean's Office McCarty D
2002!
I
could go on and on about all of the things that I am thankful for and
the opportunities I've had in CALS, because they're countless and
priceless. If you ever have a question or run into
me on campus feel free to say hi! I love getting to meet fellow gators! I
wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving from my CALS to yours!
Go Gators!
Lauren Mayo
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Lauren Mayo
Class: Junior
Hometown: Riverview, Florida Major: Animal Sciences Specializing in Dairy Industry Minor: Agricultural Communications Involvement: Dairy Science Club President; Collegiate Farm Bureau President; Block and Bridle Club; American Dairy Science Association Student Affiliate Division Officer at Large(2011); Girl Scouts of the USA Lifetime Member; Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Adult Volunteer; coordinated UF Ag Facts Friday, educating college students and public about the importance of agriculture Hobbies: Dairy cattle judging and showing, scrapbooking, cooking and baking, outdoor |
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