Student Spotlight: Laekin O'Hara

As we sat down to complete the interview for Laekin’s student spotlight, she immediately told me about her editorial assignment on tourism and conservation. For a few moments, I thought we might not get to the interview! Laekin was very passionate about her argument - can the tourism and conservation really co-exist? Is a private game reserve, like Amakhala or Lalibela, truly conserving animals?

Laekin decided to come on the Parks & People 2016 trip because she wanted to study abroad. This program aligns well with her major, Geography, and came highly recommended by her academic advisor. Laekin knew this experience would force her to go outside of her comfort zone, but she didn’t want to form expectations, because she wanted to embrace the opportunities that came along with this program.

Laekin’s a Pittsburgh native and because of her city-girl upbringing, she said that Module 1 (Cape Town) was her favorite module of the program. She felt like we only skimmed the surface in the city of Cape Town and feels like there is much left to explore. We’ve arrived in Cape Town and will be here until the program ends on the morning of March 30, but Laekin said that just won’t be enough time.

Although we’ve had many great memories out of the car, we’ve also spent quite a lot of time in the cruiser, and that time was a highlight for Laekin. She noted how much she liked singing and dancing to This is Africa with Ray in the backseat of the cruiser as we drove through the country.

Laekin came to South Africa as a vegetarian and did not plan to eat meat daily. However, meat is a huge part of the South African diet. Laekin tried all of the game meat, including the blue wildebeest, which was not a favorite (for Laekin, or really anyone in the group).

Laekin’s packing advice for future Parks & People participants is to bring more comfortable/ casual clothes and fewer field pants.

Laekin describes Parks & People as a 10-week traveling slumber party. There are a lot of summer-camp like experiences, which is part of what makes the experience so special. When Laekin thought about her time in South Africa, she described the program in three words: adventure, Instagram-worthy, and fun. Through Parks & People 2016, Laekin was reminded that she is capable of doing anything. By putting herself out there, like she did in South Africa, she knows that opportunity will present itself.