Raised in Minnesota before moving to California seven years ago, I have fond childhood memories of summers filled with hiking, rock climbing, camping, and canoeing. I have always had an appreciation for wildlife and loved observing nature, but it wasn’t until high school biology that I realized my true passion is scientific research.

I am thrilled to be a part of Zoo InternQuest to explore the various areas of zoological research and wildlife management and to also work with other high school students throughout the internship in a collaborative effort. I first became involved with the Zoo regarding a science fair project on diatoms, but I have since become active in several other Zoo programs.

I am also the San Diego Zoo’s Arctic Ambassador for 2008, Year of the Polar Bear. I traveled to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada (“Polar Bear Capital of the World”) to participate in Polar Bears International Leadership Camp. The camp brought together 16 teenagers from around the world to discuss the current threats of global climate change on the Arctic ecosystem, specifically the polar bear populations. In addition to observing polar bears in their natural environment, the Arctic tundra, we prepared different programs and presentations to bring back to our countries and cities to inspire, inform, and empower community members about issues regarding global climate change. (Read my blogs as a Arctic Ambassador here…)

When I am not at the San Diego Zoo or making a presentation about global climate change, I am a competitive swimmer for both my school and club teams. I hope to attend a university with many opportunities for collaborative research and major in the biological sciences. I then plan to continue my studies and earn a doctoral and/or law degree. I am intrigued by biology because new knowledge in the field is constantly changing the way we view the world!

I will be a part of the Zoo InternQuest Real World Team.

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