However, I found biometry and most angles of chemistry incredibly dry, and biological field studies tedious and occasionally painful. I decided to abandon hard science for hard math, and majored in Economics, with a minor in Urban Studies and Planning. The decision helped me to escape the physical pain of field studies and at least reduce, if not eliminate, my intake of tedium. My studies in economics were concentrated on environmental and urban economics, and I consequently found myself closer to my original career interests. I not only found all of those attributes at UCI, but also gained a ready-made planning laboratory in the form of some of the world's most famous and innovative planned communities surrounding the UCI campus.
Orange County offers a planning setting unparalleled elsewhere.
UCI is situated in an area where transportation, land use and development, international and regional, quality of life and environmental issues converge in a fascinating economic, political and social climate. The internship with MBA was my first step in applying the technical background acquired through my studies. This created an interplay of theoretical and practical planning knowledge that allowed me to use my course experience at work, and vice versa. I have participated in several continuing education courses offered through UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz to further develop my expertise in wetlands regulatory permitting. RBF has allowed me develop wetlands permitting as a new area of environmental services offered by our office.