A Wild Life

By Brent Silbiger

Emily taking photos of nature in Arizona

Emily Kuzmick, a junior at Ohio University studying environmental biology is going to be using all she has learned throughout her studies to aid her on an experience of a lifetime.  She will be spending two months this summer in Costa Rica studying sea turtle nesting habits and researching global warming in relation to rising sand temperatures.  This did not come out of nowhere for Emily.  It has been a lifelong passion.

Growing Up

Growing up in Arizona, Emily gained a passion for nature early in life.  Some of her fondest memories are hiking with her family on a mountain that was in her backyard.  On these hikes, Emily was immersed in wildlife.  She would regularly encounter lizards, snakes, and even coyotes.  One summer she and her family were hiking as usual when a cat began to follow her family down the mountain all the way to her house.  They kept it and named it Oreo.  Having a pet further enhanced her love of animals.                                  

When she was 8 years old, she was uprooted from Arizona and moved to Akron, Ohio.  Although she was not happy at first, she quickly became involved in activities and made many new friends.  Two years later, she shadowed a dog groomer and although grooming was not for her, she already knew she wanted to do something working with animals.  She told me, “Taking care of animals and sustaining the environment was something I have always believed in even when I was younger.  I decided I should make it an objective an life to pursue that goal by contributing to the environmental movement and protecting eco-systems and educating others about conservation efforts.”  This drive has helped her succeed in her pursuit of protecting animals and their habitats.

Emily posing in the woods for
photography

Extracurricular Activities

Not only has she dedicated her classwork to her goal, she has focused her out of class activities around it as well.  At Ohio University, she has participated in clubs such as The Vegan Cooking Club, The Sierra Student Coalition, and OU Students against Fracking (a controversial method of extracting natural gas).  Each of these are meant to inform others about sustainable life practices and environmental protection.

Costa Rica and Future Ambitions

Emily has been working towards her Costa Rica internship for over a year.  It is bound to be an experience she will never forget.  She will be working and living in a foreign country and see the cultural differences between it and the United States.  When I asked her how she felt about going she replied, “ I am very excited for the opportunity since I have been looking to travel internationally for quite some time, and the fact that it contributes to a cause in relation to my studies is great.  It’s a great feeling to progress in my field of study and expand my world perspectives.”  Her words show this has truly been years in the making.

The true test comes with how she plans on using this knowledge in the future.  She wants to work on several different projects including everything from teaching others about the importance of keeping the environment clean to performing research on habitat conservation and wildlife protection.  With the passion she has exhibited her entire life, there can be no doubt she will succeed in her efforts.

Emily at home playing with her longtime cat, Lilly

Fun Facts about Emily Kuzmick:

Question	Response
Favorite Color	Blue
Favorite Food	Melt’s “Big Popper”- grilled cheese with jalapenos and raspberry dipping sauce
Favorite Band	Fleet Foxes (changes weekly)
Favorite Superhero	Wonder Women
Favorite Animal	Bengal Tiger
Favorite Pet	Her cat, Lilly