Meet Nikki! She’s a succulent-loving, coffee-drinking, second year Microbiology student with a minor in Plant Protection.
HCCP: What all are you involved with on campus?
NK: On campus, I volunteer in the plant conservatory where I help with the maintenance and upkeep of the greenhouse, like watering and transporting plants. Also, I work with WESTT (Water and Energy Sustainability Training Team) at Cal Poly, performing research on different topics such as sustainable water-treatment practices and renewable-energy production. Off campus, I recently just got an internship with the Avila Central Coast Aquarium where I’ll get to feed the animals (even the sharks!) and help clean the facility.
HCCP: What is your favorite part about working in the greenhouse?
NK: I love that I get to learn so much about unique plants, it’s great practice for the future garden I plan to have one day. One of my favorites is the Pitcher Plant. It’s a tropical, carnivorous plant that catches bugs and insects for food.
HCCP: What would your dream garden look like?
Well, it would probably be more of a forest, even though I know that’s impossible. There would be a lot of redwood trees, ferns, and passion flowers. Maybe even a tree house coffee shop…
HCCP: What do you want to do after you graduate from Poly?
Ideally, I would like to go to grad school to study plant microbiology, and eventually work on coastal conservation projects either in Oregon, Washington, or Canada.
HCCP: Do you have any special talents people should know about?
I can juggle! And I make pretty good Spotify playlists, or so I’ve been told.
HCCP: What is your ideal travel destination?
Ooo I like this question. This is tough, but probably Costa Rica, Greece, Ireland, or Australia. Or the Moon.
HCCP: Favorite picture you’ve ever posted on Instagram?
Me holding an octopus at the Cal Poly Pier last year for my biology class. I didn’t know until after I held it that octopi can bite.
HCCP: What do you enjoy doing most in SLO?
I love hanging out in the different coffee shops around town, SLO has the best coffee shops ever. I also just like relaxing in my hammock, attempting to slack line, and kayaking.
HCCP: Do you have a favorite memory from freshman year?
It would probably be when I went camping in Montana de Oro with some friends from my dorm! We wanted to escape Valentine’s Day weekend.