Dear Svitek Foundation,

I was recently blessed with the opportunity to receive an internship down in the Panhandle of Florida. However, there was no way they could pay me, but they had plenty of work that needed to be done. That is when I got the second blessing of the spring of 04. I received one of your scholarships. It allowed for me to go down there and do the work that I wanted to do. Otherwise, I would have worked some desk job for the summer, or something like it. That would not have been fun.

I am very grateful to you. The things I got to do this summer were really cool. I got to do a whole bunch of prescribed burn. Fire has to be one of the most incredible things I have every experienced. It is such a powerful and wild thing to watch and feel and hear. I also did some bioplot monitoring and slope forest community monitoring. I was also elated to get some time on the bulldozer. The whole summer was just an intensive experience that included wildlife and ecology. It was incredible.

I still didn't get to the most important part of my summer. I view this as being more important that the experience that I got. I was able to spend a summer with no stress at all. I would spend more time after work worrying about whether I should run through the preserve, or bike the local roads. During that time, I was also able to achieve a clarity of thought that I haven't had in a very long time. I have my goals set finally. I also got the time to cope with my mother's passing about two years ago. It never gets better, but after this summer, it got a lot easier for me to deal with.

This summer is something I have needed for a few years. I want to thank you so much for giving me this opportunity this summer. I will not forget what you have done for me.

Sincerely,