Staff Member Profile, Rashel Sanjeev
Rashel Sanjeev, Summer 2025 Stewardship & Events Intern
When I first applied for the internship with Friends of the Big Sioux River, what caught my attention right away was the water testing. As a biochemistry major, I wanted to finally see what it felt like to step out of the classroom and actually do something hands-on in my field. That curiosity was what pulled me in. But as the weeks went on, I realized the job was about more than just testing water. I started to develop this whole new appreciation for working with the environment itself, not just the science behind it.
I still remember my very first day. I was nervous, probably more than I let on. This was my first real job, and it hit me all at once—this is real. I was excited, but there was also this quiet sadness knowing my family was miles away and couldn't be here to celebrate it with me. That mix of feelings—proud but also a little lonely—stayed with me, but it also pushed me to make the most of the experience on my own.
The work itself was a mix of challenges and surprises. The fieldwork gave me the kind of experience I'd been craving, collecting samples, testing water, and dealing with the unpredictability that never shows up in a textbook. But then there were parts I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did: teaching kids about watersheds, designing graphics, and helping with Riverfest. Those moments taught me something I hadn't considered before: that science only matters if people can connect to it. Turning data into something people understand and care about is just as important as collecting it in the first place.
The education and outreach part of my job honestly intimidated me at first. It wasn't that I was scared of kids, but it was so far outside of what I was used to. Most of my interactions are with people my own age, and suddenly I had to find a way to keep younger students entertained and make sure they learned something. I don't usually think of myself as the "fun" person in the room, so every camp felt like a test of whether I could pull it off. But then there was this one moment during the Leif Ericson camp that changed everything for me. We were wading in the Big Sioux River, and a little girl who was nervous about getting in asked if I would hold her hand. So we walked into the water together, hand in hand. After a few minutes, she started to relax, and then she looked up at me and said, "You're nice. You make me feel safe." That simple comment hit me harder than I expected. In that moment, all the tension I'd been carrying before each camp, the worry about whether I was good enough or engaging enough, just melted away. That little girl gave me the confidence to stop overthinking and just show up as myself for the rest of the summer.
What I take away from this internship is more than technical skills. It deepened my connection to Sioux Falls and gave me a sense of belonging I hadn't expected to find here. It showed me that science has to live beyond the lab and be shared with people if it's going to make an impact. And it reminded me of the kind of scientist I want to be—someone who uses knowledge not only to study the world, but to care for it, and to help people feel safe, included, and connected along the way.
And I can't end this reflection without talking about the people I worked with, especially Emily and Travis. They found a way to make me feel like family, even though I was miles away from my own. I never once felt disconnected, unwelcome, or unsupported. They didn't just guide me in my role; they looked out for me as a person. I know so many of my friends talk about their internships as stressful or discouraging, but I feel like the exception. I genuinely loved the work I was doing, and I loved the people I was doing it with. Emily and Travis truly set the bar high for what a workplace can be. For my first internship, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Friends of the Big Sioux River will always hold a place in my heart.