I grew up on a farm with many animals like horses, chickens, goats, rabbits, dogs, cats, and even llamas! My passion for animals must have started there because I loved caring for them and learning about different kinds of animals. My family would take me to the zoo and I would be fascinated by all the creatures there. I also like to do art, and animals are my favorite to draw. Recently I went on a trip with my family to the San Diego Zoo and I got to see my favorite animal, the platypus. It was amazing to finally see my favorite animal in person. The enclosure was dark because the platypus is most active at night, but there was still some light and I was lucky enough to see him swimming around. I also took a zoology class in high school and absolutely loved it. My favorite part was the dissections because it was fascinating to see the different features of different animals like the gills of a fish, or how a turtle's spine is connected to its shell. In that class, I also learned the names of many bones in the body and the skull. I plan to make an impact on the animal world by working in animal research and conservation. I live in Colorado, which is a state with lots of wildlife and opportunities. I want to help rescue animals by studying them and their surroundings and how they interact with their environment. I am also planning on getting into wildlife photography to show others how amazing the animal kingdom is, and to educate them on animals' importance in our ecosystem. Once I finish High School I plan on going to Oregon State University to major in Fisheries and Wildlife or Zoology. I am also looking to either double major or minor in Botany. Fisheries and Wildlife is the study of animals in their environment and having additional knowledge in Botany will help me connect animals with the plants in their environment and the plants they eat. I already have some knowledge about plants because I have a job at a local garden center called Wilmore Nurseries. I have worked there since I was 14 and learned much, like plant identification. When I am in college I plan on getting an internship at a zoo or aquarium. My dream job since I was a kid was to be a Zoologist or Wildlife Biologist, and I am very excited to finally be pursuing my love for animals.