Hi! My name is Naomi, and I’m thrilled to be checking in with you here as a new Zoo intern. Before I start documenting my adventure, let me tell you a bit about myself. I’ve been an avid animal lover since before I can remember, and since I also enjoy math and science, it’s no surprise that I’ve always been interested in pursuing a career in some sort of animal science. The only problem was that I had no idea what I wanted to specialize in. I got a push in the right direction when I started volunteering at an exotic bird sanctuary. I fell in love with the birds, and was touched by my experiences with these incredible animals. I was shocked to find out just how many of the species I worked with are endangered. This realization inspired me to look into a career in conservation, not just for birds, but for any species that needs help. I want to be out there in the field, collecting data, observing how these creatures live, and figuring out how we can save them. That’s why I jumped at the chance to be a part of Zoo InternQuest; it will give me the opportunity to explore more of what truly fascinates me. In addition to my passion for conservation and continuing volunteer work with the birds, I love to spend time taking pictures, drawing, painting, and running as a part of my school’s amazing cross country team. I’m excited to add Zoo InternQuest to the list of things I enjoy, and to discover all that this incredible program has to offer. I can’t wait to see where this takes me down my path towards a conservation career. I hope you’ll check back in as I record my adventures – you’ll have a bird’s eye view from here! Naomi Profile, Fall 2015