About Me
I'm a senior at the University of Florida studying wildlife ecology and conservation with a minor in international studies in agricultural and life sciences. I'm also a proud member of the International Scholars Program, as well as UF's chapter of The Wildlife Society and People for Animal Wellness (PAW). Through these organizations, I volunteer with several local conservancies and non-profits focused on animal care and research. Additionally, I hold a position at UF's Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, where I research the biological effects of red tide on pinfish and the efficacy of commercial production methods of clownfish. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, swimming, and spending time with friends and family.
Mission
I'm most fulfilled when I'm traveling and connecting with both nature and people. I hope to travel much more in the future to experience various cultures, study different ecosystems, and observe different wildlife species in their native ranges.
Career
I've chosen to pursue a career in conservation research, and I'm especially interested in studies on wildlife behaviors. I plan to complete seasonal field technician jobs after graduation before eventually attending grad school. These seasonal positions will help me attain a variety of skills and field techniques that will make me a valuable asset to research teams in the future. I will also use these opportunities to explore my various interests within the field of ecology to narrow down my career goals moving forward. My first seasonal job following graduation will be a six month position studying hawksbill sea turtles on an island off of Antigua.
SMART GOALS
The following are skills I developed during my study abroad program in Sorrento, Italy.
INITIATIVE
ADAPTABILITY
NETWORKING
One of my main goals was to develop an improved sense of initiative in the workplace. By working with the team at the marine protected area, I became adept at working ahead on tasks independently before being asked to do so by employers. This skill was attained and exhibited by helping with several projects without being explicitly directed to. Examples of this include helping write sections of a research paper and engaging with visitors when I'm not working the Infopoint desk.
I learned how to effectively adapt to unforeseen circumstances and easily problem-solve when the situation calls for it. This is important for any career, but especially for people who mainly work outside in an uncontrollable and unpredictable environment. I have shown my development of this skill by providing practical solutions for the majority of the issues I encountered, including rough water conditions and malfunctioning equipment.
Since the ecology field is relatively small, being able to network with professionals can make a very large impact on what positions I'm able to obtain an offer for. Networking seemed intimidating to me in the past, so I'm excited to have further developed this useful skill. I showed my success in this matter by obtaining at least 3 new contacts in the field who I can ask questions and seek advice from.