It feels like this semester just started, yet here we are in April about to wrap up another successful spring! This month's student spotlight features Tyler Brooks. Tyler is a senior undergraduate Geography major, born and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas. Though he originally began his journey at UNT as a music education major, his friends in the field of Geography inspired him through the topics they were studying in their programs (e.g., environmental processes, migration patterns, and urbanization's implications on the environment). Tyler was also drawn to the unique expertise that the Geography faculty incorporate into their research, their methodological approaches, skillsets, and their diversity within their fields of study.

Tyler's trips to his grandparent's homestead in northern Mexico nurtured his appreciation for nature and the outdoors, which helped pave the way for Geography as his major. What truly gave him the drive to pursue the subject was watching his hometown being reshaped by rapid development, which "sparked [his] interest in how human actions have led to the current state of the planet." The prairies, now occupied by big box stores and entertainment districts, were always special to him.

One of the biggest lessons that Tyler has learned as an undergraduate student is that time truly flies. "It seems like yesterday," says Tyler, "that I was moving into Bruce Hall and walking on campus for the first time." With his time at UNT shortly ending, Tyler has decided to simply enjoy being an undergraduate student. He has taken time to, "reflect on the great experiences [that he has] had at this university and the opportunities it's given [him]." After graduation, Tyler will be starting his Masters of Science in Community and Regional Planning at the University of Texas at Austin, where he plans to research important issues in Texas such as urban sprawl and water management.

Some fun facts about Tyler include that he was an Eagle Ambassador (i.e., campus tour guide) for two years. He is also a saxophonist in the UNT Wind Symphony and is a double major in Music and Geography. According to Tyler, one of the "hidden gems" of Denton is Ambro's Tacos, just north of the Square, which has "amazing barbacoas and limonadas". Sounds delicious! Good luck to Tyler and to all our Geography majors graduating this May!