Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday to one of the most unforgettable adventures of my life- volunteering in Australia.

In 2004, between semesters at Western Washington University, I spent a transformative month in South Australia as a student volunteer at Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary through International Student Volunteers.

We built platypus ponds by hand—digging trenches, lining streambeds with rocks, and even building waterfalls. I helped care for Eastern Quolls, an endangered marsupial, by maintaining their habitats and preparing their food. I also studied how environmental policies affect both native and invasive species—lessons that deepened my understanding of how our choices impact the world around us.

That experience sparked a lifelong passion for the natural world—and shaped how I think about leadership. Whether it’s caring for vulnerable species or preserving what makes Duvall special, I believe in showing up, doing the hard work, and planning for the long term.

What I learned back then still holds true today: you don’t have to cross an ocean to find a cause worth believing in. Some of the most important challenges are right here at home—and it’s going to take all of us, working together, to meet them.

This campaign isn’t just about policies—it’s about protecting what we love and leaving things better than we found them.