Freya Mayer - — Summer Job

"She didn't ask for permission to solve the problem; she asked for guidance on how to solve it," says Marcus Tolland, the owner of West Coast Canopy Adventures. "That’s a rare filter. Most people see a broken system and walk away. Freya saw a broken system and asked for the wrench." The group of 30 arrived—a corporate team from a downtown tech firm. Half of them were terrified of heights. Freya’s environmental design coursework focuses on human behavior in physical spaces. She realized the zip-line platform was no different from a badly designed transit hub.

By the end of the day, the tech team was not only safe but euphoric. Their team lead wrote a five-star review specifically naming Freya as "the calm, competent woman in the green helmet who made physics feel friendly." That review led to a contract. The tech firm hired West Coast Canopy to run a leadership retreat for its junior managers. Freya was asked to co-facilitate, earning a promotion to "Lead Field Trainer" for the final month of summer. freya mayer - summer job

The job was physically demanding. Between guiding groups of eight through the canopy, Freya was responsible for daily cable tension checks, gear inventory, and what she calls "the art of the pep talk." "She didn't ask for permission to solve the

By J. Harper