The connections through the common experiences of life should never be severed. There is an inherent value of experience and interaction between ourselves and others that should be valued; after all, we are all living beings. In my experience, realtionships through professionalism and the higher goal of bettering humanity, whether through scientific or material knowledge to achieve greater understanding and interconnection, is the driving force of my education and work ethic. Currently, I am pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology at The College of Idaho. Not only do I work with the practical, scientific methods of connections through lineages, evolution, and common ancestors, I also work with my fellows in the program to forge linkages between people as well. I am also a YOTEXIT Driver for The College of Idaho. I provide a shuttle service to and from Caldwell to Dowtown Boise, allowing for others to have the opportunity to explore the tangled tree of life in their own terms, an experience I am thankful to tend to and experience."The word mangrove itself can refer to either an individual tree or shrub or an entire forest. They can be individuals or communities - perhaps a reminder that one cannot exist without the other." -Willow Defebaugh