Rob Gibson is a thousand days a Vandal, that’s eight years at the University of Idaho — enough for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. But much of his story takes place outside the classroom, and it began outside Idaho.
In 2005, as a high school graduate from sunny Florida, Gibson decided to go 3,000 miles away for college. He landed at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, where he hoped to study biology in a rural setting.
But, it wasn’t all he’d hoped it would be.
“It was a little too rural,” Gibson said. “I guess going from 300 days of sun to 210 days of rain, I quickly learned of seasonal affective disorder, and what a priority sunshine was in my livelihood.”
As Gibson spoke of his tangle with depression, he punctuated his speech with laughter. His ability to adapt and grow from a situation is a point of personal pride.
“I learned a whole lot in Alaska,” Gibson said. “I wouldn’t go back and do it again, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world — it’s not the mistake, it’s the recovery.”
It was, after all, the mistake that led him to Moscow.
After living and breathing music during his high school career, Gibson thought he wanted nothing to do with it in college. However, after a year without music in his life, Gibson realized what an important part of himself it was. UI drew Gibson because of its biology and music program.
Upon arrival, Gibson returned to his studies of ecology and conservation biology, and played trombone in pep band, where his band director first noticed him dancing during a 45-minute lull.
“I just started dancing,” Gibson recalled. “Before I knew it, the PA system was focused on me, shown to the entire auditorium…(the band director) saw all that enthusiasm and said, ‘you’d be excellent to reap this whole concept of drum major, with all the benefits and no responsibilities.’ And I said, ‘all the benefits and none of the responsibilities? That’s like making a cake and eating it, too.'”
So, after dancing with the pep band for two years, Gibson became the marching band’s drum major. During every performance, he struts his stuff at the front of the band, dressed in white and balancing a baton. He said it’s as much about disappearing as it is entertaining — the idea is to complement the band, not steal the show.
His work is entirely improvisation.
In fact, Gibson often isn’t implemented into the routine until the week of the show.
Gibson graduated in 2009, but remains at UI — and on the frontline of the Vandal marching band — to pursue a master’s degree in environmental science, which he will receive in May. He studies the population dynamics of an invasive plant called Dyer’s Woad.
“Ever since I was a kid, I loved animals, I loved the environment — I was addicted to ‘Fern Gully,'” Gibson said. “I always felt my calling was to speak and to be the voice and help those without a voice, which is the environment and wildlife.”
Gibson is passionate about what he does, but admits he gets bored easily. Though he’s not sure what he wants to do after graduation, he said he can see himself doing anything from managing animals in captivity, working with search and rescue, educating children or adults, or conducting research.
Gibson made the mistake of leaving music behind once, and hopes he won’t have to do it again. He’s come to terms with his dual passions — he’s found that music and science are similar disciplines.
“Everything is multi-faceted and interconnected in one way or another,” Gibson said. “It generates a sense of equality, and when I feel equal with someone, I’m more vulnerable and open with them, and willing to exchange strengths and weaknesses and grow to be a better person, and I feel they do the same — and that’s how you allow deeper relationships to grow exponentially.”
During his nine years of college, Gibson said he’s learned one lesson that stands out.
“Enjoy the time you’re given,” he said. “Make the most of life, and don’t ever settle.”