From a very young age, I’ve always felt a natural bond with animals. Whether it was helping take care of family pets, stopping to help an injured bird, or asking to pet someone’s dog as they walked by, animals have always brought me comfort. That early connection has only grown stronger over the years and ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Working at an animal hospital confirmed my desire of this pursuit. It has given me opportunities to learn and assist in many veterinary tasks, from preparing animals for surgery to comforting nervous pets during exams. I learned how to care for animals in both routine and emergency situations and began to understand the complex science behind animal health. This experience showed me that being a veterinarian isn’t just about loving animals, but about having the skill, knowledge, and compassion to take care of them in most necessary times. Being at the hospital opened my eyes to the urgent need for skilled, compassionate professionals in the field of animal care. I witnessed the trust people place in veterinarians and continue to witness how strong the bond between people and there animals can be. I have also seen how many animals come in sick or injured because of preventable issues like poor nutrition, neglect, or lack of proper veterinary access. These moments have inspired me to take action. Not just by becoming a veterinarian, but by being an advocate for better education, accessibility, and awareness around animal welfare. My plan is to attend Penn State university and earn a pre-veterinary degree with a focus on both small and large animals. While I love working with dogs and cats, I’m especially passionate about farm animals and the role they play in our lives and communities. In the future, I hope to own a farm where I can provide sanctuary for animals that need a home. I hope to own a lot of rescues and livestock (defiantly a highland cow). I envision a space where animals are not only cared for but also respected and people can come to learn about humane treatment and the responsibilities of animal ownership. This scholarship would be a crucial step toward making that vision a reality. It would help me afford the steep educational price I need to develop my skills and gain the credentials required to become a licensed veterinarian. Beyond the classroom, I plan to continue volunteering and working in animal care settings to stay connected to the real-life challenges animals and their caretakers face every day. Ultimately, my goal is not just to treat animals, but to advocate for them. Speaking up when they can’t, to educate others on proper care, and to provide a safe haven for animals that have been overlooked or mistreated. This scholarship would not only support my academic goals but would also help me take another step toward a lifelong mission. Improving the lives of animals and giving back to them as they have given me so much. (I don’t have any videos of helping as I’m would be working but I physical fitness counts)

Animal care and welfare are at the heart of meaningful conservation. It’s not enough to protect species from extinction—we must also ensure that individual animals are treated with compassion, dignity, and respect. Ethical care improves survival rates, supports healthy ecosystems, and fosters public trust and engagement in conservation efforts. My understanding of this deepened through my experience working at a veterinary hospital, where I saw the larger impact that quality care can have on animals and the people who care about them. During my time working at the hospital, I assisted with the treatment and recovery of many animals ranging from domestic pets to injured wildlife. One moment that stayed with me was the treatment of a baby raccoon found strung up in metal wire. It had deep lacerations and was dehydrated and frightened. Working under the supervision of veterinary professionals, I helped clean its wounds, administer fluids, and monitor its behavior during recovery. Over several weeks, the raccoon gradually regained strength and alertness, eventually being transferred to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center for release. That experience opened my eyes to the direct connection between animal care and conservation. Without immediate, compassionate intervention, that raccoon would have most likely died from its injuries. However, with proper care, it had a second chance at life in the wild. It made me realize that conservation can start at smaller scales. It’s not always organizations fighting to prevent the destruction of a rain forest or saving an entire species from near extinction. Sometimes it’s simpler, starting in clinic conserving one life at a time. The animal hospital also reinforce my importance of understanding species-specific needs. I learned how stress and pain can manifest differently depending on the animal, and how enrichment, gentle handling, and a calm environment can make all the difference in healing. These same principles apply in conservation work, whether in captive breeding programs, wildlife rehabilitation, or managing sanctuaries. In the future, I hope to combine this hands-on experience with broader conservation efforts. I want to work with organizations that rescue and rehabilitate wildlife affected by habitat destruction, climate change, or human conflict, using welfare science to improve treatment protocols and increase successful releases. I also aim to engage in public education, helping communities understand how small changes like reducing waste or protecting natural habitats—can prevent the suffering I witnessed in the clinic. My time at the animal hospital taught me that every animal has a story and that compassionate care can change the outcome of that story. In conservation, that same care must extend beyond survival to ensure animals can thrive. That’s the kind of work I want to dedicate my life to—where science, empathy, and action come together to protect and uplift every life we can touch.