The Animal Kingdom and You
About The Creator
My name is Emily Schissler and I am a Biology Major and Neuroscience Minor at Occidental College, class of 2022. At my college, I am on the development team and serve as the Social Media Chair for Boundless Brilliance (empowering young women in STEM.) I am also a member of Club Volleyball, and Service Chair and Community Involvement Chair of Zeta Tau Zeta. My career goal is to get a Master's degree in Zoology or Animal Behavior, and I would like to work at a wildlife animal rehabilitation center. I have had opportunities that other children my age did not, such as buying books about animals, attending private schools with extensive lab resources, going to zoos, etc. These early experiences shaped my passion for animals and interest in animal behavior. As I grew and learned more, I became curious about why animals act the way they do. Many children from lower socioeconomic conditions do not have these opportunities and exposure, which disadvantages them at an early age.
The experiences that have helped me to make this curriculum for children include volunteering at the Australia Zoo, where I had first-hand experience working with animals. I found a passion for working with, taking care of, and learning more about animals and this helped me advance my scientific knowledge about animal behavior and caretaking. Additionally, I have had many volunteer experiences involving working with children, such as volunteering with Headstart, which is a program that helps prepare young children from low-income families to go to elementary school. Many animal rehabilitation centers emphasize the importance of spreading knowledge in order to promote wider discussion of animal contributions to society. In this regard, my scientific career plans and volunteering experience complement my service project as my project revolves around encouraging new underrepresented voices to get involved in STEM and join the wider discussion. This includes targeting young minds as we want to encourage them to get more involved as they grow up.