29 May Dear East Coast, I am Supporting Chesapeake Bay From Home. Love, West Coast Girl.

Hola, ¡bienvenidos!

First and foremost, I want to take the time to express my gratitude. I am the daughter of Gerardo Garcia, a humble, adventurous man from Jojutla, Morelos and daughter of Justina Garcia, the compassionate, bold woman from Acapulco, Guerrero. My parents immigrated to California in search of a life with greater opportunities. They have never stopped striving to provide me with the best quality of life. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities I have been given and beyond excited for the journey I have begun. My parents continue to inspire me and motivate me in ways unimaginable, so thank you mama y papa!

My first week as the DHA Resource and Communications Assistant for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Water trails Network has already been one of the most exhilarating times of my life. Due to the pandemic, I am not able to travel to the park site yet, I am currently working from my little sacred jungle (my bedroom, I collect tropical houseplants). However, this does not at all mean it is not equally exciting. In fact, it has been rather rewarding to learn about the East Coast from my little West Coast jungle.

I have had daily virtual meetings with my site supervisors Brittany and Gabrielle. They have been exceptionally welcoming, and I am thrilled to have such amazing mentors. I have spent my first week learning about the history, wildlife, and landscape of Chesapeake. I got to virtually meet the rest of the interns and the rest of the talented staff I will be working with. I can already sense the amazing things we can accomplish together in hopes of promoting stewardship within the Chesapeake Bay area. This has been a time of discovery and brainstorming. I have countless ideas spurring up in my mind about how I want to reach out to the Hispanic community in Annapolis, Maryland. The more I read about the missions and goals of the partners within Chesapeake, the more motivated I feel to start creating tools to get the community involved in America’s National Parks and environmental stewardship! I am eager to experience, grow, and develop new skills in hopes of making a difference.  Chesapeake, you might be across the country, but you have already impacted me in the most rewarding way. California was my gateway to the enthusiasm I have for the National Park Service and I am eager to see what my passion will fuel in the Chesapeake Bay. Stick around my friends, this will be epic.