With my portfolio of five photos, I want to convey the idea that, while they are not human, every creature has a soul and is its own being, as seen through its eyes. While these images are all different species of animals, ranging from mammals, reptiles and birds, they all share a similar light and personality through their gaze. My first photo is of an Atlantic Puffin, one of many birds that I was able to see on an informational Audubon trip in Maine. This bird's eye reflects its calm nature and home, a rocky island and ocean, where its ancestors were previously extinct before researchers worked to bring them back. This photo holds a lot of history with it, and this bird with its bright eye, is a living example of how its species was able to thrive after hardships. My second image showcases a female Bighorn Sheep. I chose this photo because of her bright and shrinking fire-colored eyes that she used to watch us with as she scaled the side of a mountain along a winding road. Due to their skittish and elusive nature, they can be hard to photograph, but with the help of my car as my cover, I was able to capture this image. A Brandt's Cormorant is the subject of my third photo. The eye of this bird really drew me in with its natural shades of cyan and teal. While their brilliant blue eyes and throats really contrasted them from the rocky shores below, these birds were still able to nest and raise young even as humans looked down at them five feet above. The fourth photo in this portfolio captures one of the few times I saw this unusual bird, one that normally is a smattering of different shades of brown. I was determined to get my own quality photo of this rare being, a leucistic female Red-winged Blackbird. With her amber orange eyes and snow-white plumage, this bird stood out. Yet with her differences, she was able to fit in with her flock and forage together. Lastly, my final image is one dear to me as it showcases my veiled chameleon. The image focuses on her eye, along with the ones of the fly that she is eating. Even though she came from a home of neglect, she has survived and kept her fierce and confident personality.

The anime I am always captivated by and I always return to is named "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime." It's about a man who gets killed and thinks back upon all his regrets, but when he regains consciousness again, he finds himself reincarnated as a slime in another world. In his new life, he decides to make sure he doesn't have any regrets this time around. I can't leave this anime alone;through the enchanting story and perseverance of the main character, Rimuru, we are sewn into his journey of making the world a better place. I admire how even through discrimination and constantly being underestimated he still works past issues and welcomes others who are willing to change for the better. I love how they build a community and work towards acceptance and equality. The way Rimuru gives everyone a chance, but stands up for his friends when they need help is something I myself strive for. I can't take my eyes away from the fantastically animed scenes either. The way the writer and animators put so much emotion into each character draws me in, how each character cares for each other and stands up for their beliefs and friends. This is one of the select few anime that I always come back to, and if you haven't had a chance to watch, I implore you to check it out.

When I think about my favorite animal, a singular creature won't only come to mind, there are so many critters and species that I adore. From the Ruddy's Duck, Stellers Jay, American Kestrel, Veiled Chameleon, Rocky Mountain Elk, Hognose Snake and Milk Frog, I can't possibly narrow it down, they all hold a place in my heart. What I can say is that birds and reptiles play a huge role in my love for nature and wildlife. Ever since I was young I have been surrounded by nature and fascinated by its inhabitants. The first stories I have been told of my first years were filled with creatures; even before I could remember, I was in a world of nature. When I was a baby my family moved to Zambia, where the baboons, snakes and antelopes surrounded us. We went on safari, lived with the locals and interacted with the livestock. When I was two we moved back to the USA and to Colorado where the outdoors were a frequent part of my childhood. Each summer we would go camping, different places all over the plains and mountains of the state. We would find chipmunks, mule deer, different types of lizards and many grasshoppers. As I grew older my interests did too. When I was around six I joined a little ranch where I would ride horses, my favorite being a massive thoroughbred named Sunny, his steady strides making me feel I was truly connected to him when we rode. At the age of seven I convinced my parents, after loads of research, to let me adopt two budgies. These small birds, named Cookie and Pickles, sparked my love for aves. To this day Pickles still lives at the ripe age of ten, two months from eleven years old. Then some years later I got my first camera, spurring my infatuation for birds. Over the last 3 years I worked on my identification skills and photography ability, hoping to learn more about the feathered friends in the world. Finally my most recent experience that has grown my love for animals, especially reptiles, was the day a chameleon practically fell into my care. This lizard, a female veiled chameleon, was neglected in a husbandry lacking classroom, filled with oblivious students and an ignorant teacher. Miraculously she made her way into my home where I gave her a proper home and nursed her back to health. Her name is Nachtio and she is the main reason why I love reptiles. All these experiences helped build my love and fascination for the outdoors and animals. They have led me to pursue a degree in zoology, that I will be working on at Colorado State University in 2024, with the hopes to strive for a fulfilling job that incorporates ornithology and keeping ecosystems healthy.

When I think about my favorite animal, a singular creature won't only come to mind, there are so many critters and species that I adore. From the Ruddy's Duck, Stellers Jay, American Kestrel, Veiled Chameleon, Rocky Mountain Elk, Hognose Snake and Milk Frog, I can't possibly narrow it down, they all hold a place in my heart. What I can say is that birds and reptiles play a huge role in my love for nature and wildlife. Ever since I was young I have been surrounded by nature and fascinated by its inhabitants. The first stories I have been told of my first years were filled with creatures; even before I could remember, I was in a world of nature. When I was a baby my family moved to Zambia, where the baboons, snakes and antelopes surrounded us. We went on safari, lived with the locals and interacted with the livestock. When I was two we moved back to the USA and to Colorado where the outdoors were a frequent part of my childhood. Each summer we would go camping, different places all over the plains and mountains of the state. We would find chipmunks, mule deer, different types of lizards and many grasshoppers. As I grew older my interests did too. When I was around six I joined a little ranch where I would ride horses, my favorite being a massive thoroughbred named Sunny, his steady strides making me feel I was truly connected to him when we rode. At the age of seven I convinced my parents, after loads of research, to let me adopt two budgies. These small birds, named Cookie and Pickles, sparked my love for aves. To this day Pickles still lives at the ripe age of ten, two months from eleven years old. Then some years later I got my first camera, spurring my infatuation for birds. Over the last 3 years I worked on my identification skills and photography ability, hoping to learn more about the feathered friends in the world. Finally my most recent experience that has grown my love for animals, especially reptiles, was the day a chameleon practically fell into my care. This lizard, a female veiled chameleon, was neglected in a husbandry lacking classroom, filled with oblivious students and an ignorant teacher. Miraculously she made her way into my home where I gave her a proper home and nursed her back to health. Her name is Nachtio and she is the main reason why I love reptiles. All these experiences helped build my love and fascination for the outdoors and animals. They have led me to pursue a degree in zoology, that I will be working on at Colorado State University in 2024, with the hopes to strive for a fulfilling job that incorporates ornithology and keeping ecosystems healthy.