Major: Biology (Pre-Vet)
Year: Sophomore
From: Encinitas, California
What intrigues/excites you most about going to Ecuador?
I find the natural world to be extremely beautiful and especially love animals. Spending time in the rainforest and in the Galapagos is what I am most excited for because of the unique biodiversity and the cool critters! I really want to make friends with a monkey!
How would you describe yourself?
I love animals, painting, riding my horse, and making people laugh. People tell me I’m friendly, funny, tenacious (whatever that means), creative, and adventurous.
What is the best piece of advice/wisdom you’ve ever been given?
Don’t put a fork in the toaster.
Where is your favorite place you have visited and why?
My favorite place I’ve ever visited was Botswana. I immediately fell in love with the untamed landscape of the Okavango Delta. I have always been fascinated by animals, but this trip really deepened my love of African charismatic mega-fauna like elephants, giraffe, and hippos. I learned a lot about conservation and about the challenges these animals face in a rapidly developing world. I couldn’t imagine living in a world where such beautiful animals no longer existed. This trip was what ignited my passion to pursue a career in conservation medicine by becoming a wildlife veterinarian.
Share a little about your family. My family lives on a hobby farm where we have over 80 animals including horses, chickens, goats, sheep, llamas, bunnies, geese, ducks, turkeys, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, a donkey, and a pig. My mom and I run a goat yoga business at the farm as well as a summer camp and a farm tour business. We also have a llama wedding business, San Diego Party Llamas where we take our llamas to people’s weddings for cocktail hour.