During my NOAA IN FISH internship, I was placed at NOAA headquarters in Washington, D.C., where I worked with the Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce. One of my major projects involved exploring the ecological impact of bottom trawling on deep-sea vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), such as cold-water coral habitats.
I analyzed scientific literature and international policy agreements while collaborating with other interns to understand the full scope of the problem. What struck me most was the complexity of the issue, as no single contributor or solution could address it alone. The problem wasn’t just ecological, but was also legal, economic, political, and systemic.
Simultaneously, I was engaging with systems theory in my coursework and readings, including the work of Donella Meadows. The idea that ecosystems, policies, and even social behaviors could be understood as dynamic systems with feedback loops and leverage points felt immediately relevant, not only to my main NOAA project, but to my broader way of thinking.
Artifacts such as the NOAA IN FISH Final Presentation, International Agreements Concerning Living Marine Resources, and IUU Fishing website show my application of systems analysis in fisheries. They also serve as evidence of how I synthesized scientific and policy perspectives to understand complex issues.
In studying VMEs and fisheries policy, I began seeing every decision point as embedded in a web of interconnected systems. You couldn’t talk about fishing gear without talking about trade. You couldn’t talk about trade without talking about enforcement. And you couldn’t talk about enforcement without acknowledging the political will of member nations within international agreements. It was all connected and messy.
That complexity was mirrored in my personal life. I was balancing coursework, a long commute, family responsibilities, and the ongoing pressure of feeling like I had something to prove. When I felt overwhelmed, I started applying systems thinking inward: What patterns were playing out? What inputs or constraints were shaping my outcomes? What could I adjust?
Instead of internalizing stress as failure, I began approaching it analytically. Where could I create a feedback loop that supported me instead of draining me? What would it mean to restructure the way I studied, planned, or even thought about my goals?
Systems thinking fundamentally changed how I process information, solve problems, and navigate complexity. It’s no longer just an academic theory, but it’s a lens I use daily. Whether I’m researching fisheries or trying to better manage my time. I now look for relationships, feedback loops, and leverage points. I’ve learned to zoom out, ask bigger questions, and identify the root structures behind visible outcomes.
This insight has shaped how I see my future. I’m no longer interested in just working on single-issue environmental problems. I want to help design policy systems that acknowledge nuance, operate across sectors, and prioritize long-term resilience. Whether I’m contributing to marine conservation, climate policy, or environmental justice, I want to lead with this systems mindset, and help others develop it, too.