The Call of the Wild: A Transformative Internship in Africa
Finding one’s true passion can be exhilarating, often with unexpected twists and turns. For Abigail Agrodnia ’26, it was an internship that changed everything.
While pursuing a business degree in her first year at the Nest, Agrodnia found herself unfulfilled and questioning her direction. But she knew one thing for sure: she loved animals. Growing up in a household filled with dogs and cats, her fascination with creatures was nurtured from an early age thanks to a veterinarian mother, who was a constant source of inspiration.
Agrodnia might’ve changed majors but she didn’t leave behind the entrepreneurial thinking that got her interested in business in the first place. At the spring 2024 Spark Tank competition, Agrodnia and entrepreneurship and marketing major Kristen Precourt ’24, both avid surfers, pitched EasyCoat, a surf wax applicator that’s also a handy scraper. EasyCoat took home third place and a $2,000 prize. The duo is currently in the prototyping stage with the applicator.
As Agrodnia now sets her sights on a career in veterinary medicine, this summer, eager to broaden her horizons, she pursued an internship with the in Kenya, Africa, where she had the opportunity to live safari life every day, observing African wildlife in their natural habitats.
We recently caught up with Agrodnia to learn more about her experience with the School for Field Studies, her favorite part of the internship, and how it has impacted her future career goals.
Were you nervous going into the internship, especially traveling so far away? Was it what you expected?
I wasn’t nervous. I have always loved to travel and explore different places, so this was more exciting than nerve-racking. Africa was everything I was expecting it to be and more. Not only were the animals incredible, but the people there were so kind. Kenya has a very “giving” culture. I found that everyone wanted to make sure the tourists were having a good time.
What did your day-to-day responsibilities look like? What were some of the tasks you were given?
My day-to-day varied, which kept me on my toes. Some days, we were in a classroom, while others were spent in the field. One task we were given was to go into local communities and interview farmers on how elephants have impacted their lives. We learned about human-elephant conflicts and a variety of mitigation techniques these farmers use to reduce these conflicts. Post-interviews, it became easier to grasp the destructiveness of elephants while still understanding the significant environmental impact they have.
What was your favorite part of the internship? Why?
My favorite part of the internship was the hands-on work I was able to do. One day, we traveled to Amboseli National Park and talked with the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. Here, we analyzed different aged elephant teeth. In doing so, we were able to determine the age of death of the elephant. This was a surreal experience because as we were analyzing the teeth, a lone bull elephant emerged from the trees and started grazing behind us. At this moment, I truly realized that I was in the middle of Africa studying elephants.
What skills did you acquire during your internship?
During the one month at the Kilimanjaro Biodiversity Center, my peers and I collaborated on three projects. I learned how to work with students from a variety of schools with diverse backgrounds. One project required seven students to work together on a film about human-elephant conflicts and mitigation strategies. Moreover, while being in a different country, I interacted with many people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. When traveling, I find it imperative for people to keep an open mind. The world has so many unique people and places, creating incredible diversity and beautiful complexity. One thing that this internship and Kenya allowed me to do was explore the connectivity between people and their cultures. While there, I started to speak to and interact with local Kenyans and learn about their typical greetings, food, traditional clothing, and more.
What are your future career goals? How has this position impacted your goals?
Learning about the veterinary aspects of conservation was the most interesting to me. After a guest lecture from the Naibosho Conservancy in the Maasai Mara, I had the privilege to ask a few questions. I inquired about the veterinary field and how they help the conservancy. Through this line of questioning, I found out that the Maasai Mara only has one veterinarian. This was hard to hear, and sadly not shocking. I hope to look more into the wildlife veterinary field. In the future, I am going to take steps towards applying to vet school. I will research longer-term veterinary internships, such as summer programs. These programs may be abroad or local to 熊猫在线视频; however, I can now appreciate the fact that I can find these programs.
What advice would you give to someone pursuing a similar internship in the future?
Most people might get scared because the internship is abroad and they might not know anyone. I say, take the leap anyway. Don’t miss out on meeting new people and experiencing new things because you are afraid to do it alone.
Learn more about the Endicott Experiential Edge, the College’s pioneering internship program, extensive study and work abroad opportunities, and outstanding career resources that give students an edge, so they graduate with a degree in one hand and an impressive resume in the other.