'That' child

“I’ve had a beloved interest for insects since I was like 4 or 5 years old,” they said. “I can remember being like 5 years old and it being time to go outside in the afternoon to play, Mom would take me and my brother in the backyard and I remember going to the dirt and with bare hands digging in, looking for earthworms and bugs. I always just did that.” Amber’s childhood obsession developed in to a more focused mission. “I want to become an entomologist to study insects more deeply and clearly, and protect them.” Amber moved to Hudson Falls from Schenectady in 10th grade, and experienced a little culture shock. “I really, really hated it, going to a small place because it’s so different from being in a big school with so many other people, but I got used to it and think I now prefer it. Being in a smaller place like Hudson Falls, the people really genuinely care. There were a lot of staff at the high school I had really good relationships with.” At first, Amber’s stylistic self-expression added to the tough transition. “I’ve always been different, my different looks and strange outfits, crazy hair and everything, I’ve always been ‘that’ child,” the Liberal Arts major said. “But it takes a lot of guts. I have to give zero f—-s and do my own thing and not care. I’m brave.”