A mentor that brings new perspectives

During my time in my internship, my supervisor, Brian, has taught me so many things about the land that is Death Valley, its history, cultural relevance, and how to be a productive and impactful employee in the workplace. From helping me get settled into my role, and answering my questions about my project, he has helped me to succeed in my internship. Brian has also given me interesting questions to ponder regarding the issues that I am working on. I have learned so much through working with Brian about energy, and project management. I appreciate that he also takes me along to his projects so that I can see some other park functions that are going on at Death Valley. I have also learned a lot about the Native Americans who have lived here for thousands of years. I learned about their traditions, what is sacred within the park to them, their lifestyles, and their relationship with the National Park Service. This insight from Brian has given me a holistic way of thinking about the National Park, the organization that I am working for, and my project itself. I have attached a picture of a crater in Death Valley, which is sacred to the native people here. It was believed that this crater was where life originated. Brian took me to see this crater on a cultural immersion trip.