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Meet Will Penni, Newest Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation Intern

Will is a Barnstable High School Senior interning at the Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation Sept 2024 through May 2025.

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Since beginning my work with Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation in 2022, it's been my greatest joy to discover how important Cape Cod's blue economy is to young people here. I've had the opportunity to work with five interns from Barnstable High School, Cape Cod Academy, and Bridgewater State University. Today, I'd like to introduce you to Will, a senior at Barnstable High School who reached out at the start of the school year to ask how to be involved in the Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation's work. Fortunately for Will (and me!), Barnstable High School has a well-organized and robust internship program that allows Will to spend between 4 and 8 hours each week learning about blue economy and contributing resources to our new website. I invite you to get to know Will better through our Q&A exchange below. -Katy Acheson, Executive Director, Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation

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Katy: How did you first hear about the Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation?

Will: The first time I had heard about the program was last year at the Water Works Summit. I had been there on a field trip with my environmental science class and knew the interns who were running the table for the Blue Economy. That was really the first time I had heard anything about it, and eventually it led to me pursuing an internship with the foundation.

Katy: What does "blue" mean to you? How would you define it? How does it relate to Cape Cod?

Will: For me, “blue” means a lot. It really is so much of how I grew up, between boating, fishing, and surfing, I was practically swimming before I was walking. “Blue” is everything relating to the ocean, anything maritime really. This means it has such a broad scope, especially on Cape Cod. Being an island, we are surrounded by blue, it is such a large part of our lives. It’s why so many people come here. I can honestly say that without the blue, there really would be no Cape Cod.

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Katy: Since interning at the Blue Economy Foundation, what have you learned/discovered?

Will: Interning here has been such a unique opportunity, because I’ve been interested in the environment for a long time, but prior to this, I didn’t have as much knowledge of contemporary happenings in our local area. Working with the Blue Economy Foundation has let me have an active part in sustainable usage of our world, and I’ve been able to meet people who have the same goals as I do. I think the coolest aspect is that I can actually have a measurable impact on the world around me, which wasn’t something I could necessarily do in my classes.

Katy: What are you looking forward to studying at college? Does it relate to blue economy or the work you're doing through this internship?

Will: I think I will continue in a similar line of work once I get to college, at the very least continuing in environmental sustainability. My plan is to major in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, which will use a lot of the same skills that I’ve been using in this internship. My end goal is to work as an environmental attorney, so all the work in policy review and business is really interesting to me.

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Katy: For folks not as familiar with Cape Cod, what is something you wish they knew about growing up here? Or what is something about Cape Cod you think you will miss the most (other than your dogs!) when you head off to college?

Will: I think the major misconception I always hear about Cape Cod is that we’re only a summer destination. No one seems to realize that people live here year-round, and it’s just as beautiful. The winters can be gray sometimes, but when it snows it’s awesome, and the fall and spring are the most colorful times we get here, with the leaves changing or the flowers popping up. Although, what I’ll probably miss most when I’m gone is my friends and family. No matter where I end up, I wholly believe there will be some natural beauty comparable to the Cape, that’ll be true anywhere in the world. But it’s going to be hard not seeing the friends I’ve been seeing almost every week for the last few years, and even harder not seeing my parents and my sister. I’ll miss my pets too, all 16 of them.

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Katy: Is there anything else you'd like people to know about you?

Will: This isn’t necessarily about me, but a piece of advice I’d have for everyone is to spend more time appreciating the world around you. I can honestly say that even on my worst days, I can go outside and just be happy the planet is still spinning. It’s enough that the grass is green, and the sky is blue. I think everyone would be a lot happier if they learn to appreciate the little things. It isn’t always easy, but it really does give me hope that no matter what, a few things won’t change.