From a magazine article to the fateful words of a grandfather
In the tenth grade, Elzė still did not have an answer to what she wanted to be after finishing school. There were thoughts about biology, engineering, even ocean studies.
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The idea to study forestry came to her quite unexpectedly – her mother showed her an article in the magazine “What to be” about a young forester.
“After a couple of weeks, my grandfather, with whom my mother never talked about forestry, told me: ‘You would be a good forester.’ Well, wait, these are some serious coincidences. Since then, I started to be interested and think – maybe really?” she says.
Getting to know the forester profession exceeded expectations
Interested in the forester profession, Elzė did not limit herself to study program descriptions online. A friend from school sent her information about professional shadowing – a way to get acquainted with a profession by observing a specialist in the chosen field for some time. Elzė registered for a meeting with foresters.
The first acquaintance with forestry representatives took place remotely – during a profession presentation for Lithuanian students. Later, Elzė herself came to the central administration of VMU in Vilnius, where she talked about forests and the forester profession with Justė Petrauskaitė, senior specialist of the People and Culture Department.
During the meeting, Elzė was in for a surprise. She had already seen Justė before – precisely in the magazine article shown by her mother, which started the girl’s first acquaintance with forestry.
After that, there was another opportunity to talk with foresters. Elzė visited the VMU Nemenčinė regional branch, where she met with employees of the Nemenčinė forestry office. At the end of the visit, when asked how she liked the forester profession presentation, then still a high school graduate, Elzė answered briefly: “It exceeded all my expectations!”.
The oceans were left behind
The warm reception by foresters and the interesting profession meant that after a few years, Elzė listed the forestry study program at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy as her first priority on the application list – that is exactly where she enrolled.
As her second priority, Elzė chose biology at Vilnius University. Third was a study program related to marine sciences in Klaipėda.
“I secretly hoped I wouldn’t have to get to the third,” she laughs. Choosing between college and university, Elzė says she consciously chose the latter.
“I heard that there might be more practice at college. I thought that maybe I like the scientific side more. Of course, I want practice too, definitely. But I don’t mind learning more theory,” the interviewee said.
Forestry attracted Elzė also because it is quite a specific field. This is confirmed by the reactions of her peers. “Sometimes I tell my school friends that I enrolled in forestry, and their reaction is: ‘What? Why?’ Most of my schoolmates chose engineering, management, medicine,” the student says.
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However, later, according to her, friends’ surprise turns into curiosity. “It seems that many even get a little fascinated: ‘Oh, forestry, cool, I wouldn’t have thought,’” E. Nikolajevaitė rejoices.
A connection with nature helped find the answer
Elzė did not have a clear answer for a long time about which profession she wanted to choose. Hearing others say they knew from childhood what they wanted to be, she thought she did not have such a special connection with one field.
“Some have one thing that is special to them, some specific feeling that guides them. I didn’t feel that,” she says.
Only later did Elzė realize that it was precisely the good feeling in nature that helped her decide. “I noticed that I feel a warm feeling when I go for a walk in the forest. You see plants, animals. I really like that. It was like a sign confirming the thoughts swirling in my head about studies.”
Finally, everything fell into place: she did well in biology at school, forestry seemed interesting, and the more Elzė learned about it, the less she wanted to look elsewhere.
The first semester will show if the choice is right
Although she chose forestry consciously, Elzė is not one of those people who spend every free minute in nature.
“I like to walk in the forest, but I wouldn’t say I go hiking every day. Definitely not,” she says.
But when she does go to the forest for a walk or mushroom picking with her grandfather, she does not like to rush. Elzė says that in nature she always wants to stop, look around, see what is growing or happening around.
The future forester’s daily life also revolves around other hobbies. She plays the piano, dances jazz, and likes to spend time at the computer. Having moved to Kaunas, Elzė is already looking for new activities – considering trying martial arts, and she has already marked several places in the city she plans to visit.
Now ahead are the first semester, dormitory, new city, new people, and the opportunity to finally test her choice herself. Even after several years of interest in forestry, Elzė is in no hurry to say she already knows exactly what her professional life will look like.
“I mostly hope that during the first semester I will see that this is really my place and everything is fine. I’m not one hundred percent sure, but it would be nice if this is the place where I will stay,” hopes the freshman.
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