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Meet Estelle Long
Iceland 2022
University of South Florida Tampa
Environmental Science & Policy Major, Urban Studies Minor
Graduation Year: 2023
“TGP means a wonderful academic experience as well as an accepting, helpful network of people who have given me support at a critical time. It means some of my fondest memories of adventuring and learning with other people.”
About Estelle
I’m Estelle Long, a USF graduate in Environmental Science & Policy! I’m very passionate about nature and sustainability, and I strive to make a difference for people and ecosystems wherever I go. In particular, I’m passionate about native plants, urban policy and sustainable urban design, and policy implementation. I’ve done work in environmental justice and student activism, and I have years of retail and customer service experience. I’m interested in music, languages, and outdoor recreation. I also love trying new food from other countries and I’m a big fan of chocolate.
I was interested in TGP because I wanted a study abroad experience that was relevant to my field and aligned with my interests. Because my major is smaller, there weren’t many environment-specific study abroad trips. I saw Iceland mentioned in my school’s education abroad site, and I clicked to learn more about it and found TGP! I was excited that there was something related to my field, and equally excited about the idea of going somewhere new, in a geologically-active environment I had no experience with. I decided to apply, and soon enough, I found that I was able to enroll and get ready!
Estelle’s Iceland Experience
I’m very interested in languages and cultures, so I knew a few things about Icelandic culture, primarily the Norse mythology and texts, and the close-knit community culture, as well as a few fun facts. I expected to be able to explore the country’s nature, which was thankfully a constant activity throughout the trip. Unfortunately, because of prior experiences in educational settings and my tendency to overthink things, I was initially worried that the other students wouldn’t be accepting, or would avoid me because I was trans.
Initially, to prevent any confusion, I enrolled under my legal name, but when I mentioned being trans in one of the documents I filled out, the TGP team reached out to me to offer support. They assured me that they could use my preferred name in the system and that we could find a workaround when it came to lodging accommodations. Going into the program, I was very excited, and a little nervous because of the aforementioned reason and because it was my first time traveling solo(ish) abroad.
My trip pleasantly surprised me in many ways. with one surprise being how welcoming the team and students were. I dealt with very few comments, and with no intentional hostility, and I was accepted by my roommates without issue.
My TGP trip was absolutely amazing, and it was one of the highlights of my college experience. I was absolutely blown away by Iceland’s beauty (and I often found myself imagining that I was adventuring in Middle Earth), and it was inspiring to learn about all the ways that Icelanders try to work with nature to live sustainable lives. At times, I was intimidated, especially by the heights in Thorsmork, but I’m so glad that I faced my fears and continued with all our hikes.
One thing that impressed me as a Floridian was the stillness of the outdoor environments. I’m used to wet environments with small creatures like lizards and rodents running about, and many parts of Iceland were dry and expansive, where rocks and moss would stretch out past my line of sight. I was already expecting natural beauty, but I was amazed by the crispness of the air and the unfamiliar scents like those of fresh boreal pine forests nestled between mountains.
I was also impressed with how the team navigated my accommodation needs since I am a trans woman and I had recently begun transitioning before going on my trip. The team met me where I was, and I never felt overlooked or judged. My fellow students were also very welcoming, which came as a relief because I was honestly very nervous about whether people would accept me.
Capstone Project
My Capstone Project was a concept for a renewable, solar-charged electric bus system in the city of Amman, Jordan, which was inspired by a fellow GREENie’s firsthand experiences in Amman. We came up with the concept by discussing our interest in renewable energy, urban design, and equity. My influence involved talking about the urban design aspects and how access to public transit is a crucial aspect of urban sustainability, as well as suggesting native landscaping around our theoretical bus stops.
Applying what I had learned came easily because of how well my major lines up with sustainability. Having done two years of my program at USF before the trip, my classes gave me the context that helped me take in the information in our tours and lectures. I was especially excited when we were able to tour a parcel on a farm that had been converted to a wetland as part of a carbon sequestering project, especially because wetlands are a major interest of mine.
Life After TGP
I’ve been continuing to live and work in Tampa and trying to find the best ways that I can make things better for the ecosystems near me. I’d be lying if I said it was all easy, but I’m proud of myself for trying to live out the principles of sustainability that I studied. I’ve retained my hobby of growing native plants, and I’m fortunate to work at a retail company that prioritizes sustainability.
A year ago, I worked on a federally-funded environmental justice initiative that involved writing reports and conducting site visits in two Bradenton communities dealing with urban pollution surrounding brownfield sites. At my current job, I’ve also taken the initiative to lead discussions with my coworkers, particularly on the topic of trans inclusion and advocacy. There’s a lot going on in Florida and the country on that front right now, and I try to do my best to demystify things for people who might not be aware.
The feeling of inspiration I gained from my trip has carried through for quite a while, and it also informed my work in environmental advocacy for my student activism internship where I was able to contribute to the renewable energy and voter turnout campaigns. I also try to live out the principle of ‘þetta reddast,’ Iceland’s way of saying “It will all turn out to be okay,” although that’s much easier said than done.
Funnily enough, the recommendations on packing and layering apparel I was given before my trip were almost identical to the advice I give to customers who are heading on similar trips so that firsthand experience allows me to give personalized help. I’m always excited when I talk to people who are going to Iceland, and they’re often just as excited to receive direct advice from someone who has been before!
I’ve stayed engaged with environmental initiatives in a variety of ways, although there’s always more work to be done. I’m happy that REI encourages its employees to engage with sustainability, and I recently joined my coworkers for a river cleanup in March. I want to keep updated more on things I can do from a legislative/activist perspective, so feel free to send opportunities my way!
The Importance of Global Experiences
I’ve been continually pursuing an environmental career path, and TGP helped that by giving me something great to share in interviews. I believe that has helped me secure positions with the two internships I did during/after my last year at USF. My career has been a work in progress, so I’m glad to be able to point to an experience where I grew as a person.
TGP has helped me grow by providing opportunities to develop professionally, such as working as a Campus Ambassador and keeping me in touch with relevant job postings via the TGP Alumni Network on LinkedIn. I’m still in touch with the TGP team, and they are always ready to help me.
A general definition would be that TGP provides students with thoughtful study abroad experiences that explore sustainability. But to me, TGP means a wonderful academic experience and an accepting, helpful network of people who have given me support at a critical time. It means some of my fondest memories of adventuring and learning with other people.
Estelle’s advice for new GREENies:
Don’t be afraid to reach out! Sometimes I get nervous about whether it’s the right time to ask for help, but I’ve found that people have always been willing to reach back out to me.