Hello! My name is Abby Thorsen, and I am entering my third year at Oregon State University. I am studying human development and family science. After finishing my undergrad, I plan to attend grad school to pursue a career in counseling or therapy. I have loved every part of my internship under the OSU Extension Service Groundwater Protection program in the mid and southern Willamette Valley so far. My favorite part of this internship has been speaking with community members about their water and health and helping them find resources they can utilize.  

Extension has always been a huge part of my life, starting when I joined 4-H at nine years old and continuing until they gave me the boot after graduation. In high school, I was a member of multiple Extension Advisory boards in Polk County, where I learned about how Extension programs are run and funded on a deeper level. I am super excited to be involved with Extension again this year and give back to the program that has had such an impact on my life personally.  

So far, I have learned an incredible amount about well water, groundwater and septic systems, and I have so much to learn still! Understanding the way these systems work together has also opened my eyes to how deeply our environment shapes daily living and health. As I keep learning, I’m excited to explore even more of the connections between environmental systems, public health and human services. It is meaningful to see how these areas overlap and I’m looking forward to continuing to build this understanding.  

Given the numerous water screening clinics we host over the summer, I am also looking forward to traveling across the mid and southern Willamette Valley and seeing areas I have not spent much time in. I am excited to observe not only the environmental differences in this region, but also the varied community demographics. Having the chance to see these contrasts firsthand will help me better understand how environmental conditions and population characteristics intersect, and it will broaden and inform my perspective on the communities that we serve. This knowledge is something I plan to carry with me as I pursue my future career.