It's early Sunday morning when I arrive at the farm. I stretch my legs after the long drive and make my way over to the barn to begin my tasks. From afar, I hear the happy sounds of chickens excited to be let out of their coop. Grabbing a wheelbarrow and manure fork, I walk over to the first of fourteen paddocks that need to be mucked out. This might not be how most people would choose to spend a Sunday morning, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I have been volunteering at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian for almost a year, and I love working with all the animals, especially the horses that provide equine-assisted therapy. In addition to volunteering, I worked at a summer horseback riding camp at New York Equestrian Center and continued teaching lessons after school in the fall. As much as I tend to horses, they have really been taking care of me. In the past, anxiety/depression have impacted my life both academically and socially. However, the more I exposed myself to the equine world, the more my social life flourished and my grades improved. Life felt manageable again. Horses have impacted me so much personally that I wanted to find a way to share their life changing ability with others. In fact, I received the Gold Award, the highest honor within the Girl Scouts, for my work in promoting awareness of equine-assisted therapy, especially among veterans and first responders who often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I created an informational flier that provided education on the benefits of equine-assisted therapy while promoting several equine-assisted therapy providers on Long Island. I distributed and presented these materials to the community, including at events specifically for veterans and first responders, as well as private meetings for the American Legion, a local fire department, and a younger Girl Scout troop. Working with horses has helped me become the best and happiest version of myself. My career aspirations involve working in the equine industry, where I will dedicate my life to caring for the animals that have given me so much joy and have helped me grow into the person I am today. Whether I’m caring for the horses themselves or helping others find comfort and meaning in their own lives through horses, I know this field is where I am meant to be.

In my early high school years, anxiety and depression were something I had to cope with on a daily basis. I searched for ways to achieve happiness, and I recalled when I took a handful of riding lessons as a young child. The peace I felt when riding or simply grooming a horse was something I missed in my teen years. I made it my mission to reclaim that prior self that was happy and content. That quest led me to seek out and obtain job and volunteer opportunities working directly with horses, as well as return to riding lessons. My life was absolutely transformed. My career aspirations involve working in the equine industry, where I will dedicate my life to caring for the animals that have given me so much joy and have helped me grow into the person I am today. At this point, I am uncertain of the precise area I want to pursue. I may want to explore a career providing equine-assisted therapy or managing a barn where that therapy is provided, both of which are options that I have been exposed to through my volunteer experience. I am also interested in training/breaking horses or becoming a very well-rounded lesson instructor in all riding disciplines. I also have an entrepreneurial interest, which I discovered during the last eight years of being a top Girl Scout cookie seller in Nassau County, New York; so, combining business with an equine career is also appealing. I believe that an equine science and management education will prepare and expose me to many different careers within the industry, and I am fascinated and excited by the potential opportunities. I am eager to commence my formal education in this area and immerse myself in every experience available, so I can one day use my talents and skills to best contribute to the field. In whatever aspect of the equine industry I end up pursuing, I see myself helping people find comfort and meaning in their own lives through horses. Whether it is through the work I do in my career or volunteering my own time, I have no doubt that community service will remain an important aspect of my existence, as it has been throughout the last 13 years of my life as a Girl Scout. One thing that is completely clear to me is that horses have improved and shaped my life and will be the focus of my career. However, that’s not where it ends. I want others to know and experience the benefits I have gained through horses, which was a huge part of my earning the highest honor within the Girl Scouts, the Gold Award. My project promoted awareness of equine-assisted therapy, especially among veterans and first responders. I created an informational flier that educated others on the benefits of equine-assisted therapy while promoting several equine-assisted therapy providers on Long Island, many of which use rescue horses to provide the therapy. I distributed and presented these materials to the community, including at events specifically for veterans and first responders, as well as at private meetings for the American Legion, a local fire department, and a younger Girl Scout troop. I know from the data I’ve collected that I have already made a huge impact within the community, and I am just getting started!