Hi, I'm Maya and I am a Scripps College senior studying Humanities with a focus in Politics and Philosophy. I am from Newton, MA and am used to the chilly New England weather, which we all got to experience during our clinic trip. I had a great time roaming the streets of Portland as well as walking along the water in Brunswick. 

I learned so many valuable lessons on this trip from our various interviewees and they have helped guide my interests in the environmental sciences. I was most interested to learn more about the legislative battles involved in making sure Indigenous communities have access to clean water -- especially hearing about Plansowes Dana and her work in hand-delivering water to her fellow tribal community members. I was truly inspired by her work and her strength during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

HI! I'm a senior at Harvey Mudd College studying Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Analysis. This trip was my first time in Maine and I really enjoyed the trip. I had a wonderful time hiking near the Schiller Coastal Center and exploring downtown Portland (even found some great book stores)!

I was surprised by how starkly different Maine's natural environment was compared to what I've become used to in Southern California. Still, it was very beautiful and I greatly enjoyed the different outings I was able to participate in throughout the trip. We had read about Maine's coastline, but I feel like being there and seeing it for myself was so different. There really is only so much that can be communicated through maps or images!

I am incredibly grateful to all the people I was able to speak with during the trip. Beyond the people we interviewed, everyone I met at various restaurants, in shops, and just walking around were so friendly and made the week so wonderful.

I'm a junior at Claremont McKenna College studying Environment, Economics and Politics (EEP). Although I was originally born in Boston, I mostly grew up in Bangalore, India, and this trip was my first time back to New England in several years! Personally, I loved the small-town vibes of Maine - everyone we talked to was friendly, had a real connection to the land, and often couldn't see themselves living anywhere else. Even on my flight to Portland, the passenger sitting next to me was chatty and gave me a list of things to try out in Maine!

Despite the fact that we were still on a college trip, I appreciated being able to step away from the high-stress academic environment for a week in Maine. Even when we were neck-deep with interviews, we always had time to go on short hikes or walks in the middle of the day which truly helped me relax. I also underestimated how lovely Portland would be - it was amazing to be there on St. Patrick's Day when it felt like the whole city was out to celebrate. 

I am a senior at Scripps College, studying Environmental Analysis with a Geology Concentration and Economics. I grew up in Westchester New York so I am familiar with the northeastern United States and after being in California for many years, it was nice to go back and spend some time in wintery landscape. 

I most enjoyed the days when we were able to freely roam around Portland and look into different shops and restaurants. The community in that area felt very welcoming and open to speaking with us about any questions we had regarding our project. I ate delicious sea food and I am grateful to the seamen who worked hard to bring the fresh fish to our tables. My fondest memory was meeting one of our interviewees in a small coffee shop. She gave Maya and I some really great advice about how to plan for post-undergrad and how to make the most of our early twenties which I really appreciated.