The last place I ever thought I would be able to work at is the San
Francisco Zoo. When I was attending Benjamin Franklin Middle School some of the
staff form the zoo came to do a presentation at our school and eventually ended
up telling us we had a chance to work at the zoo as volunteers for the summer.
I was ecstatic, because I absolutely love animals. When I was little I really
wanted to be a zoologist/archeologist that traveled the world. So I saw this as
an opportunity of a life time. I was one of the first people to put my name on
the list.
I volunteered for two summers, and loved every minute of it! One of
the best responsibilities about the job was getting to be up close and personal
with the animals, but I always looked at it as a perk. During our 2
nd
training week the staff took us into the Giraffe enclosure to feed them. I was
so excited because Giraffes are my favorite animals in the world. I’d been in
love with them ever since I was a kid. The animals were so special and
extraordinary; and even some I thought were never safe to be around. We worked with
anything from baby alligators, chinchillas, possums, ferrets, old world rabbits, and
more.
We
were expected to study the handbook and really learn the info so that when we
were with our assigned animals and the public came up to us we had to teach
them. This came in as being accountable and constantly developing my
public speaking skills. I learned that it’s a lot of hard work to have to deal
with a wild animal and the general public at the same time all while keeping a
positive attitude and staying vigilant. Overall I loved seeking new experiences
and learning. So I feel that whatever comes my way in my internship is a new
chance to broaden my horizons.
No comments:
Post a Comment