Jessica Hinojosa from Dallas, Texas is mid-way through her Fulbright exchange year in New Zealand, on which she is conducting a paleoclimatalogical analysis into the Roaring Forties winds, at the University of Otago. Jessica recently transferred from a Master’s to PhD programme, extending her planned stay in New Zealand to several years.
In recent years I’ve seen a certain criticism of my generation pop up again and again: we feel entitled to a career in which we are totally happy and satisfied, which is idealistic and perhaps unrealistic. I had a conversation with older members of my family where they remarked that for them, putting in hours at work was just something you did to provide for your family, and fun was reserved for time at home and vacations. I understand that many jobs that keep the world running are not glamorous – we need janitors and jail wardens as much as we need graphic designers and venture capitalists, if not more. But I won’t fault my generation for being dreamers. In fact, it’s that spirit of achievement that I credit for bringing me to where I am today, both in terms of my career path and my Fulbright award.
As an undergraduate, I was encouraged to study whatever I was passionate about, and for me, that was the Earth. I was curious about how all the systems on Earth fit together, how small changes can have big impacts, and how past events are stored on Earth. My interests led me to geology, and while I didn’t enroll in classes because of a big paycheck on the other end, I was excited by the places this major could take me.
Fast forward several years, and now I’m working on my PhD in Geology and Marine Science at the University of Otago thanks to a Fulbright grant. My experience thus far – I arrived in February of this year – has only confirmed my early choices to pursue what I love most. At Otago, a typical “day at the office” includes sailing to Doubtful Sound, diving in sea caves along the Otago coast, or hiking into Fiordland to collect water samples. Thinking back to conversations I had with family members about what work entails, I can’t imagine a life where there is such a clear boundary between work and play; for me, that boundary hardly exists at all.
However, the most fulfilling part of the work I do is bigger than the day-to-day. The reason I am so excited to do what I do is the bigger implication of my research. At Otago, I am part of a paleoclimate team that is exploring high-resolution variability of our climate since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) approximately 14,000 years ago. By understanding processes that change on centennial to millennial timescales, we can have a better grasp on different parts of the Earth’s climate – and this increased understanding can inform climate models that help us to forecast our future.
In a time when mankind is having such a profound impact on different parts of the Earth’s systems – the land, the ocean, and the atmosphere – it is crucial to understand the natural background variability to envisage how our impact will contribute to future change. Knowing that the research I will do during my Fulbright year and beyond contributes to this body of knowledge is unbelievably rewarding and fulfilling.
I am also extremely happy that I chose New Zealand for a project of this scope. My project focuses specifically on the westerly wind belt, which is a major player in regulating the Earth’s climate, and how it has changed since the LGM. New Zealand is in a very unique position on our globe to study the westerlies – it’s one of only two landmasses that intersect the winds, meaning it can capture and store signals of change in the past. In addition, New Zealand in general and specifically the University of Otago provide a remarkable research environment; I have been amazed by the collaborative spirit and support within the geology community.
Despite my love affair with my research, I still find time for more traditional recreation. Whether it’s hiking to the Rob Roy Glacier with my flatmate or going to see Flight of the Conchords with a crew from the Geology Department, I tend to fill every spare hour with an experience that feels truly kiwi to me. I even catch myself saying “sweet as” on occasion – though it still doesn’t quite roll off the tongue like a natural.
In addition, the other Dunedin Fulbrighters and I have been volunteering at a local primary school to give weekly science lessons – it’s been a fulfilling outreach effort and has brought our group even closer together.
I feel incredibly blessed that my personal life and my academic life both satisfy me so completely. I recognize that this is a very special thing. But I have to give credit to the mantra of my generation: dream big. If I had taken the more “practical” route in college instead of enrolling in Geology 101, I wouldn’t be here today. I wouldn’t be exploring New Zealand, I wouldn’t be part of a groundbreaking research team, and I wouldn’t have a Fulbright. Thankfully I wasn’t “practical”, and I couldn’t be more grateful to Fulbright for fueling the fire of my big dreams.