I have always been fascinated by the natural world around me. I quickly realized that the root of my interests was Zoology. As a result of this, I aspired to volunteer at the Cincinnati Zoo the first chance I could. Therefore, when I was thirteen I sent in a volunteer application. I loved going to the zoo anytime I had the chance, and spent weeks in advance preparing to become a volunteer. Then I received a letter from the zoo, and I was ecstatic. However, it was not the news I had hoped for. I was not accepted to become a volunteer because it was believed I lacked the skills it would take to volunteer with animals. I genuinely felt crushed. My desire to volunteer at the Cincinnati Zoo wouldn’t be, and I started to lose confidence in myself. A week later, I read about a volunteer opportunity at the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC). It wasn’t exactly what I had …show more content…
It was fun, and I got the chance to really see what I was made of. The program was intense, with a lot of studying, training sessions, and visitors constantly wanting to test my comprehension of the museum’s subject matter. Two years passed by, and my knowledge and love of science grew exponentially. Additionally, I gained skills in public speaking and customer service that allowed me to express my interests with others. Some people within the natural history museum began to notice this, and I was given “tests” to evaluate my skills. I spent the next six months or so studying for difficult examinations of the museum’s content. Eventually, I passed every test I was given, and then my employers told me about a special opportunity. I had the chance to work with the CMC’s animal programs division. I could work side by side with Zoologists, study, and learn. Not only that, but I had acquired a paid position. I wouldn’t be volunteering, this would be my