Recently,
I have changed my major from pre-veterinary studies towards animal
conservation, because I have discovered something about myself that has changed
everything. It took the effort of a 10-hour drive and a group of people to show
me the importance of animal conservation for me to realize it.
Ever
since I was young, I have been in love with elephants. Their magnificent
enormity, unimaginable intelligence, and their ever-caring social groups
entranced my imagination. It became clear to me that no matter what I did in my
life, elephants had to be involved. Thus, how I latched on to being a wildlife
veterinarian. This has been my goal for a very long time, with my mind never
wavering until now.
When
I participated in an internship in January with the Ocean Mammal Institute, my
mind began to open a door I had never knocked on before. Shortly afterwards I
was offered an opportunity to travel to South Carolina to check out a tiger
conservation group, we all know as Tigers 4 Tigers. While there, I suddenly
felt so passionate about the issues being brought to light and a new sense of
purpose. I left there with a small seed of tiger conservation planted in my
head that kept growing all summer long.
I
began to realize that this was more than just a crush I had on tiger
conservation. It was a full-fledged commitment. Never before had I felt that I
was contributing to the world more than I do now. Once I understood the ramifications
that we as people could have upon wildlife; being a veterinarian didn’t feel
needed anymore. I felt that elephants and tigers didn’t need more
veterinarians; they needed more people to fight for them. This is exactly how I
feel about all wildlife and being a part of this organization has let me do
just that – fight for justice in the animal world.
In
short, this is what made me decide to change my major to animal conservation. I
have taken an important step in my life that I could not have done without Tigers
for Tigers. Now that I’m finally here, I feel empowered and committed to reach
my new goals.
Chelsea Connor
Towson University T4T
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