Using Science to Save the World by Chloe

Using Science to Save the World by Chloe - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly.

But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. We named him Sterling. We have also transported a cat with a broken leg to the veterinarian for treatment.

However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.