My Journey as an Animal Advocate

The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I chose to attend a study abroad program in Costa Rica. The academic trip sponsored by the National Leadership Academy was designed for pre-veterinary high school students whose goal is to enter the medical field. The two-week long trip included working hand in hand with veterinarians at Escuela de Medicina y Cirugía Veterinaria San Francisco de Asis, observing surgeries and other medical procedures as well as participating in anatomy classes and dissection.

I was also able to work with native wildlife in multiple wildlife sanctuaries, observed medical procedures, and assisted with feeding and husbandry. The experience was so memorable and humbling that I decided to go back to Costa Rica this summer to attend the same program.