Help make my childhood dream a reality!

Beatris Munoz-Aboytes Start Date: Oct 19, 2023 - End Date: Apr 18, 2024
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Volunteer Trip
  • South Africa

My Travel Story

by: Beatris Munoz-Aboytes Start Date: Oct 19, 2023 - End Date: Apr 18, 2024
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Volunteer Trip
Before I left the primate house at our local zoo, I took one last look at the zookeeper in the process of playing an enrichment game with a western lowland gorilla. 8 year old Beatris couldn’t fathom how “cool” the job was. I vividly remember exiting the building and having one thought in my mind: I would love to work with wild animals one day. I was determined to make my dream a reality.
As a child, I’d spend my time watching educational animals shows or checking out animal related books at my local library. Jack Hanna’s wild countdown and Sea rescue further fueled my passion to become a Veterinary Technician. Although I really enjoyed learning about animal husbandry, the animal care and anatomy aspect is what truly motivated me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Over the span of the next few years, I managed to get involved in animal-related clubs. As a 20 year old college student, I’ve now had the ability to work with various type of animals at a wildlife center and complete job shadowing at Chicago exotics animal hospital. Aside from my volunteering experience, I’m currently working as an approved veterinary assistant at a critical care facility that works with some exotic animals. During my time visiting chicago exotics, I was fascinated with learning about the different types of animals that would step through our doors. We would have an appointment for a iguana on one day and a surgery for a sugar glider the day after. Working at a facility and knowing that you’ll get the chance to work with various types of animals is very exciting. One key takeaway from that experience would be that problem-solving skills and being able to improvise with every individual animal’s needs is a vital thing when working with exotics. Although it was challenging, the experience was very rewarding and informative. Having the ability to go on this Wildlife project would help me achieve my educational and career goals. I’ll have the ability to gain more knowledge regarding animal behavior and apply that to my work as a Lincoln Park Zoo Volunteer. Aside from being a great addition to a resume, this course would open more opportunities to become involved in animal husbandry/ animal care within the zoo. Going to South Africa would be one big step to achieving my dream. I’d like to make 8 year old Beatris happy and hopefully inspire the next generation to pursue a career within veterinary medicine. 
 
  • South Africa