J i l l i a n K u r e k
Background
I was born and grew up just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I always had a curiousness towards nature and the Earth, but my real passion throughout my grade school years was music. I play some violin here and there, and I can strum a little guitar.
Not knowing what I wanted to do after high school, I attended Grand Valley State University which was a growing university, but I only attended because it was down the road. I had no idea what to do for the first year I attended.
After walking through the halls of the only science building on campus (and a horrible violin audition!), I was intrigued by the rock samples, fossils and field trips they had to offer. I signed up for the intro class that summer, and a field trip class to go to the black hills of South Dakota. A good intro class got me hooked right away and I was on my way to working through the geology program not knowing a single thing about it.
After accessing almost every opportunity I could through my undergraduate, and attending field camp at the reputable Indiana University field camp, I graduated GVSU in December of 2006. I took a small break to focus on how serious I was about geology...whether I wanted a job or go back to school. The next fall I moved into my first apartment in North Carolina, orientation starting that week.
Here I am, focusing on my first major research in the southern Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. I hope to make many more accomplishments through my geologic and scientific career.
Tetons and Snake River -- Ansel Adams
