What I’ve Learned: Nora Hotch

Photo By Cpl. Thomas Mudd | Hotch moved to several areas as a child due to her father being active duty in the Air Force. She lived in locations such as: Cheyenne, Wyo.; Kaiserslautern, Germany; Spokane, Wash.; Boulder, Colo.; and Temecula, Calif. This allowed her to experience different cultures and meet new people.  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

04.14.2015

Story by Lance Cpl. Thomas Mudd 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Hotch moved to several areas as a child due to her father being active duty in the Air Force. She lived in locations such as: Cheyenne, Wyo.; Kaiserslautern, Germany; Spokane, Wash.; Boulder, Colo.; and Temecula, Calif. This allowed her to experience different cultures and meet new people.

Since my father was in the Air Force, we moved around about every two or three years. I loved going to different places and meeting new people.

For a long time I continued to move to new places every few years, like my family did while I was growing up.

I came to the desert first because I had a sister who lived here and I had never experienced the environment. At the time, I had just received my bachelors [degree] in Environmental Population and Organismic Biology from the University of Colorado, and wanted to close to my sister.

I love the desert. Most people don’t realize how much is really here. It’s not flashy and it doesn’t have large wildlife but if you stop and look around you would see some fascinating things and appreciate them for what they are.

After being out in the desert for a little while, I moved toward the coast and hopped around that area for a few years before I had a calling to come back to the desert.

I enjoyed the desert the first [time I lived here] and after working in San Diego County with [United States Geological Survey] in post-fire plant surveying , I applied for this job.

I thought that no one liked the desert as much as I do, and that I had a better chance getting this job.

One of the greatest things about working on a military base is that I get to meet a diverse group of people. The community is also very respectful and helpful.

Growing up, I wanted to be in a career where two days were never the same. I thought about going into the medical field, but I took some other biology classes and found that I enjoyed working with plants and animals more.

I love going into the field and working hands-on with the different plants and animals. Part of my job is to move the wildlife that makes its way onto base. For example, when a tortoise is found we come out and relocate it or if an injured animal is reported we go and retrieve it so we can [treat] it.

I feel like the job we do here is very important. The NREA works to keep the base within the law, by teaching people how to preserve the plants and animals habitats, while allowing the base to continue its mission.

I do what I love every day and I believe that if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.

• Date Taken: 04.14.2015
• Date Posted: 04.14.2015 19:09
• Story ID: 159989
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US