Enola Lagrave 

She/her 

• Major: Environmental Science and Management 
• Co-Coordinator, Nursery Management and Plant Propagation 2022-2024
• Intern, Ecological Land Management 2022-2023
• Intern, Nursery Management and Plant Propagation 2021-2022 

In 2021, I was a sophomore going into my first year of in-person college and didn’t really know how to get myself involved or knew what would interest me. A friend told me about the Nursery team, so I decided that it could be a good way to spend time outside, meet new people, and get internship credits. I was greeted by Taylor Lewis and a group of students who were passionate about taking care of plants. Taylor was so inviting and his knowledge of plants helped me develop my own interest in learning about them. I was already passionate about the environment and climate readiness, but I soon discovered that growing resilient plants for the public and learning to care for them plays a big part in that. Having the opportunity to be in two different Learning by Leading teams has allowed me to discover new career pathways and decide what kinds of skills I want to work on in the future.

My favorite part about Learning by Leading has been the people. I’m surrounded by peers and mentors that are engaging, friendly, and passionate about what they do. Those within the program want you to succeed and always try to help you develop important skills. At first, being offered the leadership position of co-coordinator seemed like too much responsibility I wasn’t qualified for — I felt like I still had so much to learn and wouldn’t be able to help guide students in their own internship experience. However, Taylor pushed me to take the co- coordinator position and assured me that I knew more than I thought. I’m happy he did, because doing so allowed me to become more confident in myself and develop leadership skills I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to had I not taken it up. 

Other mentors I’ve had have also allowed me to become more independent and take on additional responsibilities. When Abbey Hart took over as the Nursery mentor, she trusted Mara Feldman, a dedicated coworker, and I to re-organize our team to how we thought it would be most successful. Being faced with making decisions for a group of students seemed overwhelming at first but eventually became very rewarding once the program was in motion. Miles DaPrato is another mentor that has become a huge part of my time here at Davis. Eventhough I no longer work with the Ecological Land Management team, he still sends me job opportunities and offers help in developing useful skills I could need in future careers. It’s comforting to know that even after my time here at Davis is over, I will still have supportive and knowledgeable connections that are willing to help me start my adult life. 

The Learning by Leading program is a great opportunity for anyone looking to work alongside others in a community passionate about the environment, spending time outdoors, and communicating with the public. Although I’m sad that my time within the program is almost over, I’m extremely grateful I have had the opportunity to participate and meet so many amazing people. Learning by Leading has been one of the most rewarding experiences from my time here at Davis; I’m excited to grow what I’ve gained!