Growing up, I always had a passion for animals. I was constantly drawing and painting them and watching as many videos about them as possible. I would find myself watching Animals Cops on TV and hoping that one day I could do something similar. As I have gained more experience through school, volunteering, and interning at a Veterinary Hospital, I have realized that a lot of the harm that comes to animals happens simply due to a lack of knowledge. Owning a pet is one of those things that you are never really "taught" how to do, but it is so incredibly important! I want to be a part of helping educate people about their animals to prevent any potentially avoidable injuries, illnesses, suffering, or deaths. I began volunteering at a local non-profit sanctuary, Mitten Misfits Farm Sanctuary, during my undergrad. Through this experience, I have been able to witness the impacts of human ignorance and cruelty to animals firsthand. The sanctuary primarily takes in senior farm animals, but certain animals have been rescued from places of mistreatment. One case that has - and undoubtedly always will - stick with me is a horse named Trigger. He is a white pony who was used for the circle merry-go-round rides at fairs. After being retired, he was passed from owner to owner, child to child, for as the children grew too big, they no longer found a purpose for him. Throughout his years, he was not medically treated for certain ailments. This has resulted in him being fully blind in both eyes, as well as having irreversible hoof damage due to a bad case of untreated founder. The Mitten Misfits found him up for sale and decided to take him in. During his first few months at the farm, he was scared of every noise and he would begin to walk quickly in circles. He always resorted back to walking in those endless circles, and it took many months for him to let go of that anxious behavior. He now wears cushioned booties on his front hooves so he is able to walk without pain, and is slowly beginning to trust in humans again. It is cases like these that push me to continue my education, continue volunteering, and continue educating others. The most heartbreaking experiences can lead to such strength and vigor in trying to set the world right and bring hope to others. I truly believe that if the previous owners of Trigger had been given more education on the care needed for him, he could have lived without these disabilities. I have found that artwork does wonders in bringing attention to a topic. I have a small art business where I crochet animals that I sell at fairs. If I make an endangered one, I put a little notecard with some information about the animal and different organizations that are working towards their cause. It often will lead to the buyer asking questions about it, allowing me to share just a little more knowledge. The farm has also gotten bigger and gained more support from the community, and I have helped lead a few art projects to help bring it to life. From painting the logo on the barn, drawing holiday and thank you pictures for cards to send to donors, to leading a girl scout troop in painting the chicken coops, each project leads to more awareness in the community. Each little action you take has a ripple effect, and I plan to continue educating others in any way I can for animal wellness.

My life has revolved around animals for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I lived in the suburbs but my parents created a small pond in our backyard which attracted much of the nearby wildlife. I learned to love and respect all of these little critters and even got the opportunity to take care of some of them. I will never forget when we found baby moles in our compost bin, when a turtle with an injured shell came to the water, when we got to take care of baby cotton-tail rabbits, or any of the other amazing times. It was in these moments I felt truly "at home." These animals sparked my passion for wanting to be a healer, and that passion was further grown through my increasing love for the pets that we had. We always had a dog and cat but also had fish and frogs in the backyard, and a spriteful little cockatiel who'd be singing us songs throughout the day. Whenever one of our pets got injured or sick, I had the strongest urge to help them, but I was unable to do a lot because I was lacking the knowledge needed. This was one of the most frustrating feelings for me as a kid. Not having the full capability to help. As I have gotten older, that urge to help animals has not dwindled. I am currently studying animal science at Michigan State University with a concentration in animal biology and pre-veterinary. I am also an intern at a primary care animal hospital for dogs and cats, and it has introduced me to so much more of the veterinary world. There is nothing greater than seeing a pet leave in better condition than when they arrived, and seeing the relief of the owner in knowing that their beloved pet is well. And while I am still unsure of what exactly I want to do in the future, I know that it will involve improving the lives of animals. During my years at school, I also found a non-profit animal sanctuary that takes in senior and/or disabled farm animals. I have been there for a little over a year now, and the farm has grown so much and taken in so many new animals. It is great seeing the support that these senior animals get from the community and the joy they bring to everyone who visits. It has exposed me to so many new types of animals, as we now have horses, a mammoth donkey, sheep, goats, pigs, peacocks, chickens, and more. We often have girl and boy scout troops come out to learn about them and it is so much fun getting to teach the kids about how to care for the animals, show them their unique personalities, how to safely be around them, etc. I hope that whatever I end up doing, I will be able to medically help animals, as well as teach or just share some of my knowledge with others. There is certainly a special connection that forms between humans and animals, and I think it would be amazing to be a part of making those connections stronger, healthier, and happier for both parties.

My passion for animal advocacy lies within what I believe to be the base idea from which it has stemmed - a more compassionate world for all. So many animals are suffering because of human desires. Everything from food, fashion, entertainment, scientific experiments, exotic or hoarded pets, and so much more revolve around the use of animals. In order to get those desired products or results, the care of the animal tends to fall short of what would be considered humane. As an animal science major, I am learning more and more about the unfortunate ways that animals are mistreated, but I am also learning the ways in which I can help improve their situations. I believe that by being an animal advocate, you form a lot of qualities that make you a more well-rounded, compassionate person. Representing animals when they are unable to defend themselves requires strength, courage, empathy, compassion, and knowledge, just to name a few. Strength to stand up and speak out for a cause greater than yourself. Courage to “swim upstream” and reject common but unethical practices. Empathy to conceptualize what neglected animals are going through. Compassion to listen and put these feelings towards a proactive cause. Lastly, knowledge to learn the ways in which change can be made to benefit the lives of these animals. One of the most powerful tools of animal advocates are their voices, but these voices need to have knowledge and passion charging them so that they can make the biggest impact. Animals bring so much value to the world and our lives, and it’s not just materialistic gains. They are those unmeasurable values animals provide that enrich our lives so much. By just being around them, you can see their intelligence, their sentience, their capability of love and feeling. It is so wrong to deny them of these natural abilities and to treat them as less. Being around animals brings us joy… and even makes us healthier, as research has shown. The list of benefits they bring to our lives is just endless, and there is no reason for them to be mistreated in this world. They do not have voices to explain or defend themselves, so it falls upon the people who see their value to speak up on their behalf. This is why animal advocacy is so important. We need to spread awareness to others who may not know all the problems animals are faced with. When you are unaware that a problem exists, you will not try to solve it. So, it is up to the advocates to expose the problems, spread awareness, and teach better methods. While I wish that I could remove every problem and pain from the lives of animals, it is just not feasible. Advocating forces me to focus on the most important factors that go into animal welfare. Every situation will have some flaws, but by focusing on the bigger picture, the whole situation can be improved. Animal advocacy pushes me to improve the world and build a mindset that stands for something so much greater than myself. I have to believe that by building a respect for animals, we also build respect for other humans, plants, and for every other element that we coexist with in our lives.

The most inspiring book I have read was "The Mind's I: Fantasies and Reflections on Self and Soul" by Douglas Hofstadter and Daniel Dennett. This is a book that really makes you question yourself, your reality, what you believe, and most importantly why you believe it. When you dive deeper into the meaning of what is written in its pages, or when you apply it to your own experiences, it is truly eye-opening. The idea of what makes us human is a theme all throughout the book. It brings in selections from different scientific journals and short stories, combined together to create an incredible read. Two stories in particular really impacted me, "The Soul of Martha, a Beast" and "The Soul of the Mark III Beast." I am going into the veterinary field, where I will take care of and help heal various animals. I think these two stories made me want to go pursue this field even more. They make you ask the question: who is valuable? Do animals have a soul? We know they have intelligence, but why are we to judge the level of their consciousness? It has really inspired me to dive deeper into this topic, and made me much more appreciative and open to many other new ideas. Being able to take meaning from a book, whether it be a fact-filled nonfiction book or a book of fiction, is what makes reading so wonderful. Books inspire us to learn, to grow, and to become more well-rounded individuals.

If I could share one sentence with the world, I would say "Live a life full of love." I am a firm believer that love is the most powerful force on earth. It is something that truly has no limits. It is through love that true change, growth, and acceptance can occur. We learn to be selfless, kind, and forgiving. We learn that true wealth is not about how much you have, but rather the quality of the relationships you have with others. Love allows you to look past one's flaws, to accept all differences, and to enjoy those little things in life that may otherwise be overlooked. When something goes wrong in life, it is easy to get caught up in the "what if" questions or the thought loop of "if that did not happen then..." Then what? We have yet to discover how to go back in time to change those things we wish we could. So, by living with love, we can live without anger, envy, or regret. It is still a challenge to accomplish this, but when you are surrounded by love, it is very hard to be full of negatives.

This is Sissy. When we first brought her home, she earned her name. She was scared of absolutely everything, from garbage cans to a leaf blowing in the wind, even her shadow. So, we took time training her and giving her plenty of walks to help her confidence. Now, she lives for these walks and isn't afraid. She loves hiking and walking off-leash and even knows her way around the neighborhood so well that she tells you where she wants to go. She's 9 years old, still looking and acting young, and living for those daily walks.

This painting was inspired by our earth. I have grown up with such a great appreciation for the earth and everything it has provided us with, and I am learning more about how I can give back. The first time I saw an image of the plastic islands in the oceans, I was stunned. I had known of the mountains of trash created on land, but I never knew there was also that much in the oceans. It made me want to change a lot in my lifestyle and learn about how to lessen my environmental impact. This also led me to create this painting. I painted my version of "Mother Earth" with a skull to show the importance of what could happen if we continue to live the same way, without making any changes in our daily life. Luckily, even small actions can lead to big impacts. So my Mother Earth is also full of life, covered in vibrant and lively corals. And, she is reaching up from the plastics that are pulling her down, showing hope that those clear waters full of ocean life can be reached and replenished again. Using acrylic paints and pieces of grocery bags and small messages from wrappers, I created this painting in 2021. Over time, I have slowly gained confidence in my art and found that I can also make an impact, even if it may be small at first. Growing my knowledge and creativity is something I strive for and can always improve upon. I plan to go into a veterinary career where I can learn to save animals' lives and hopefully get involved in preserving our wildlife too, while also continuing my artistic journey.

My favorite artist is a woman named Dani who goes under the Instagram handle “deadthingsmadepretty.” She uses animals who have lost their lives due to natural causes and preserves them so that their beauty is always able to be appreciated and so people can learn from them. By combining the sciences of anatomy and preservation techniques she is able to create outstanding pieces that show life and beauty even in the presence of death. To me, she encompasses STEAM as she is going against the grain of what is considered “normal” by using her science-based knowledge to form art that will live on forever.