Meet Cassidy Downing, a biology-ecology major from Almont, Mich. We asked Cassidy a few questions about her NMU experience so far:
Why did you decide to come to NMU?
Cassidy: I chose NMU because I remembered all the times visiting my brother at Michigan Tech when I was in high school and knew I wanted to live in the U.P. at some point in my life, but I liked the lifestyle of Marquette a bit more and had heard of the success of the Biology Department here.
What's an example of a cool, interesting or helpful thing that you have done as a part of your major?
Cassidy: What to name first? I have branched out further socially and with my concentration than I ever thought I would here. I travelled the Monongahela National Forest last summer with the Evolutionary Biology Lab doing small mammal trapping that led to my trapping of a rare rat in the area that we are currently publishing a paper on. To have my name on a scientific publication would be a huge achievement for me, and it would be my first one. I also formed and am carrying out a study on Alaskan marten endoparasites (worms in the guts), and plan on publishing a paper on my findings as well.
What are you involved in within the university as well as outside of campus?
Cassidy: I am a volunteer coder with the Conservation Data Lab through The Nature Conservancy, and am working on learning better coding skills to give usable data to projects that can help us look out for invasive plant species and wildfires in some areas out west. I also work in the Biology Department main office as a secretary, so come say hi! (with a mask on, please)
I also take advantage of my free time to take part in social changes on campus, and hope to make the most positive impacts possible- I believe it is up to everyone to leave their mark in a positive way and to be outspoken for those who can’t be, if possible.
Outside of school, what do you enjoy?
Cassidy: I am a pretty avid runner and climber, with high hopes for both sports. I love the short drives to some pretty decent climbing areas around Marquette, as well as the access to beautiful spots to go trail running. Both sports give me lots of time to think and some quiet between work and classes. On the side I also do some illustrations (look out for my coloring book!) and enjoy yoga to stretch out sore muscles from climbing. I’m a huge fan of the local breweries and the food trucks that hang out near them, too.
What does “be Northern” mean to you?
Cassidy: I would say that the spirit of the student body at NMU is original, organic, and chill. There are big events that highlight green flags, sports stars and Wildcat Willy, but I don’t think that’s where the student body finds its pride. I think that the nights spent camping on national forest land, the social change that is currently challenging the foundations of old institutions, the grit of NMU students for making it through one of the school’s most difficult semesters, and the originality and quirkiness of students and staff make this place what it is. It is why Marquette is a tourist destination- there is originality, space, inventiveness, and natural beauty that makes Marquette, and NMU, truly wonderful. None of these things you can find in the bookstore with a logo on it.
What are your plans after graduation?
Cassidy: My plans after graduating are to move to Wyoming to work with any environmental institution that will have me. I would love to (and have applied) to work as a horse packer, field technician for endangered species, or as a bum climber until options A or B become available.
Advice for current students?
Cassidy: It sounds dumb because you’ve heard it a million times, but follow your heart. It’s harder for some than others because of your financial or social dilemmas, but at any cost you should always do what makes you the happiest, even if you have to give up a lot or work really hard for it. It would be ignorant to claim that anything I’ve accomplished was in spite of my privilege, but those with privilege should always be seeking to lift those who do not up, and only together will we all be our best selves. I want to give words of wisdom to every NMU student, but for many I cannot because I do not have their life experiences. To anyone who would gain from hearing this though: your own happiness and self-worth should always come first, and the only expectations that dictate your life should be your own.
Cassidy: I wear a mask because I understand that I am not the only one effected by the transmission of this virus and if I am not careful I could kill someone’s grandma. Or son. Or sibling. My own personal frustrations with wearing masks or the social issues caused by this crisis will not be solved by taking it out on others or their safety.
How have you been practicing social distancing?
Cassidy: I live with three other roommates, and we have had a “plus one” policy since March that we hold each other accountable for. That means at most, we would have eight people at our home, but to my knowledge we have not yet been good enough at planning to even make that happen. We each picked a close friend to be able to have over, and have not changed our “people” since the beginning of the pandemic. We also have tried mostly getting take-out rather than dining in, and are not going out to the bars or to parties.
How has COVID-19 changed your perspective or your lifestyle?
Cassidy: The lifestyle the pandemic forced on all of us was not easy to adjust to, but a little while into it I realized that I could live much healthier without indulging in what I used to. I do not think, even after things return to “normal” that I would spend much time at bars or drinking, and I learned to cook a lot more healthy meals at home where I would normally just be microwaving macaroni and cheese. I started running a lot more and doing yoga to work through anxiety, and now these things are just habits that I am using as a tool to better myself. I learned to appreciate a small group more, and not to feel bad if I’m not constantly hanging out with people. I think overall my worldview grew, while my personal life got simpler, which I think is a very good thing.
Cassidy: Is the “grew up in a small Michigan town” thing overused? I grew up in a small town outside Detroit, and I think it was meant to be that as a little kid I thoroughly enjoyed being coated in mud and playing with creepy crawlies because there just happened to be an abundance of such right outside my home, 24/7. I grew up obsessed with horses, and was working in horse barns cleaning stalls in trade for lessons by the time I was in high school.
After getting a two year degree from a local community college near Detroit, I followed a path down becoming a professional horseback rider and groom. I travelled the world doing this for several years and at times was homeless, and other times was very comfortable. I worked on teams that did nothing but muck stalls in Arizona heat all day to riding with Olympic hopefuls in Germany. I worked unbelievably hard days in harsh conditions with people of all walks of life, and learned to appreciate those whose struggles are different from my own.
I carried my pride of growing up low-income from Detroit all the way with me and used it as a tool of strength, especially on days that I was too tired to go home and slept on a hay bale in my riding clothes. After working in this career for several years I recognized that I would never feel fulfilled if I did not use my life to leave the world better than how I found it, and decided I would want to go back to school to get a degree that would help me help the environment.
Now, about to graduate I am setting my sights on getting a field position to work for a while before looking into graduate schools. I’m a runner, climber, and social justice advocate but most importantly I am a very proud Michigan native and am extremely excited to use what I have learned at NMU to leave the world better than how I found it, in any way that I can. I hope to use any platform I am given in my life to spread awareness for peace, tolerance, and every individual’s ability to use their privilege to help others- I see this as the number one way to help save our planet, which I believe is the responsibility of all.
