Mentorship log

To be honest, I didn't have much time with a mentor, I've been so busy with science fair data and model assembly that I couldn't fit in time to see the vet. I have about five hours clocked in at the southern california animal hospital.
I have about three possible mentorships at other veterinarian clinics, one of them deals with exotic animals. Over break I plan to settle down with one and start learning.
I also have a chance to volunteer at the Zoo, so in a sence i would be in contact with wildlife, but not learn any veterinarian skills..
I will keep this updated over break and get back to you!

Senior project update

I am currently volunteering at an Animal hospital/vet clinic. I've gained vaulable experience, hoping to learn more about the medecine and medical procedures. So far i've been in touch with the animals, helping restrain while they do procedures and learning about diseases illnesses and treatments. I remained in contact with a few other organaizations and am trying to find a wildlife conservation or rehab center where i can further my serivce learning.

The most important research I have gotten so far was one with an organization at Wildlife Waystation. Allison was very enthusiastic about her job, and told me a couple of fun and interesting facts. I also talked to a few other people at different rehab centers (They were too far to volunteer at) And they all shared the same undying passion for protecting animals.

Blog 5b: Science Fair Proposal

What is your topic?

Wildlife rehabilitation

2. What is the driving problem behind your experiment and the quote by an expert to support that problem? (Expert citation must be MLA format.)

"The state of elephant health in the U.S. is appallingly poor," said Elliot M. Katz, DVM, President of IDA. "The medical records don’t lie: elephants are suffering and dying from disorders directly related to inadequate zoo environments."

3. What is your hypothesis? (Must be in If-Then form.)

Elephants are more likely to develop foot disease, athritis and other growing pains at an accredited zoo than anywhere else due to it's small enclosures/

4. Write a paragraph summary of how you will perform the experiment. Include the tools you plan on using.

I will be researching medical records as well as old to current articles. I will also research the type of habitat they were taken away from them and study the new artificial envronment they have now. I plan to ask questions to zoo keepers, and find expert opinions and quotes from veterinarians in zoos, as well as my mentor. I also plan on emailing and calling many zoos for the best amount of information from credible sources.

5. Select one of the following Project Categories for your experiment:

Animal Biology & Physiology

Blog 9: Working EQ and Possible Answers

How does a wildlife vet approah wildlife effetivly?

• I am not going to revise my EQ at this time
• DO NOT domestiate the animal in any way
• Keep the boundaries between humans and wildlife evident; This is key in rehabilatating the animal into it's effetive environment
• Don't over stress the animal; it hides it's symptoms to it's predators (Humans)
• Keep the animal in a stable environment (dark, warm, quiet room with minimal noise)
  Don't 'baby' the animal. One it's young it will imprint on any interation and repeat it. If it imprints on a human it will do whatever the human does and therefore domestiated; no way of being released into the wild.
• (alot more, still researhing. :)

Presentation 1

• Rough Draft; 10 minute presentation plan

Independent Component #1 Plan Approval

Content: 

1. Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

• I have been emailing local wildlife conservation organizations as well as animal shelters. It seems a little too far fetched from my original topic of Wildlife Veterinarian. Most of the programs that would be very beneficial are abroad or require me to be 18 or older. I plan on dedicating a day to visiting local animal clinics and hoping to schedule an interview and shadow a vet. Using my previous experience of animal training and handling.

2. Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

• There will be no problem in me completing my hours. I have previous experience and can dedicate my time in a local shelter or spend some time in a wildlife awareness organizations, though I am keeping my options open. If all goes well, I will hopefully be an understudy of a domesticated veterinarian and learn about treatments, medicine dosages, diagnoses, etc.

3. How does your independent study component relate to your working EQ?

• My independent study will coincide with my working EQ because I will be experiencing and learning all I need to know about animal treatment and care. Whether it's wildlife or not, it's a good start on animal science.

Blog 6: Second Interview

Second Interview Questions

 

1.) What college would you recommend I go to for my field of interest? What college and high school did you go to?

2.) What extracurricular activities should I do on the side with book study? Hands on training.

3.) What in your opinion is the difference between wildlife veterinarian and domesticated veterinarian?

4.) What drove you to this career? Did you always have a passion for animals?

5.) How long do you plan on staying in this career?

Blog 4: Project Reflection and Working EQ

The Pentagon:

(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?

I learned the different options of careers in my interest of wildlife. I am torn between wildlife veterinarian, marine biologist, wildlife conservationist, activist, etc. I now know that my field has more options so i can explore as many as I can. 

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

 I think my overview of steve irwin, the best conservationist/activist in my opinion, was the best piece of research so far. It made a big impact on me, showing how he displayed wildlife in a positive view, but also showing how dangerous they can be. I think it was genius. He is my role model, brave enough to get up and close and film animals in there most natural state, and helping prevent species from dying out. I aspire to be like that when I grow up.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

There are plenty of volunteer opportunity's for me in different organizations but not the kind of knowledge and up close with the animals as I hope. I would most likely be helping clean the environment, filing papers, etc. Which would be contributing to the animals habitat,I understand. But I'd like to learn more about the animal itself.

(4) What hasn't worked so far? 

It's hard fotr me to get a personal mentor. A few organizations contacted me, gladly accepting me as a volunteer. But it's hard to get personal with a professional in that career.

(5) Finding Value:  Based on your experience so far,

•  What possible question or questions come to mind regarding what you would like to study this year (don't list questions about the instructions relating to the senior project)? 

What topics could I major in? And what degrees would I need?

Which jobs are easier to get, which ones are harder? What is the income? Will jobs opening decline or increase in the future? What are the best colleges and schools I can go to?

More specifically: What areas do wildlife veterinarians/ conservationists mainly reside? Where are they most needed? And some basic animal anatomy.

•  What is your end goal this year with your senior project (don't say get a good grade or gain knowledge, put specific things you want to accomplish in your senior project this year)

I hope that I can get in contact with a professor,or someone with my career in mind already, and stay in contact with him/her. Hopefully I can learn as much as I can and get a recommendation for a college majoring in animal science/veterinarian. Or a referral to a good job in my topic.

• Who would you like to talk to you next? Why?    

I'd like to speak to an old or retired activist or conservationist because they have alot of stories to tell, and can tell me raw facts about how life is like as one.  They most likely have many  pictures, memory's, videos, and other people they can refer to me as well.

Problem Statement

Wildlife conservationist/ veterinarian 

 

Problem in your topic.  What will you do once you solve the problem?

There are a variety of environmental problems. Habitat destroyation is a major issue in why different species are dying out. How can we help? What specific species are dying out because of habitat destruction?

 

Problem in your topic.  What will you do once you solve the problem? 

Finding out the main cause of an animal being endangered? Survey around, ask and  interview official wildlife conservationists and find the root of the problem. Poaching? Over hunting? Toxins, waste?

Blog 3: Interview Preparation

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?

•  I contacted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via email (contact2@fws.gov)

   

  and the National Wildlife federation via email (volunteermatch@nwf.org)

   

  I also facebook messaged  the Wildlife Conservation society and Wildlife conservation network.

   

  I also contacted the LA zoo, I am sure I will get a reply on one of them 

   

  I have previously been massaging all three back and forth for volunteer opportunities. 

   

  My mentor from Baldwin park would be glad to do an interview for me at any point as long as I tell him in advance :)

  
  

2.  You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?  Ask open-ended questions.

• How would you suggest getting the public attention on conservation issues?

   

  Have there been any hardships in your career? (ex, income, publicity, laws, etc) What were the hardest times?

   

  How did you know this is the career you wanted to pursue? ( Were you passionate about animals since you were a child? Did your parents do a similar career? Did media or environmental issues influence you?)

   

  What do you think is the best method inn protecting wildlife?

   

  What college did you attend? What did you major in? Did you get a masters or bachelors degree for your profession?

   

  What classes do you suggest I take in order to major in wildlife?

Topic Choice

Content

a. What is your topic and why? 

 My topic is wildlife conservationist. I chose this because I want to make an impact in the animal world. They don't have a voice and thousands of species our dying out. I've always loved animals, whether they thrive on the land, sea or air. This is a career i would be excited about every morning and feel satisfied every day knowing I helped protect these beautiful creatures, restore the environment and educate the public. I want to help restore the wildlife and their habitat for generations to come.

 

b. And what do you hope to accomplish this year with this topic (connecting your answer to each of the 4 ESLRs)

• iPoly Citizen

   I plan to volunteer in as many wildlife reservations/conservations as I can. Many of which are abroad and I think this will be a great experience to be a part of something bigger. A community with the same goal in mind; protect animals who are rite fully free. This relates to the me improving as a iPoly citizen because I want to help educate our students with the real life situations that are happening right now. I want to dedicate my time and experience that I gained from i poly (Such as presentation skills, projects, team based work) to a cause I believe in.  

   

• Effective Communicator

   I plan to.. travel abroad to countries and help protect endangered species from poachers and rebuild there habitat. Elephants, cheetahs, rhinos and many other animals are poached in numerous countries, sold abroad or used for there fur and tusks. The cove in Americans can't do much  This is where the real help is needed. This will make me more effective as a learner because.. I will have a chance to be a part of a international wildlife conservation society. I'll meet new people, discover new things and learn of different cultures.

  "international volunteers, interns and independent study abroad students attached to this program can choose to work mainly with elephants or lions, or both animal species, in the buffer zones of Kenya wildlife protection areas."  This is an experience from one of the many wildlife programs; Kenya Wildlife Conservation

   

• Effective Learner

    I plan to learn as much as I can about the current state in animal science and technology. This will make me more effective as a learner because I will research (and hopefully take one class) on animal science, veterinarian science, marine biology, etc. I plan to discover ways to help the environment and not destroy it. I also want to be able to help an animal in need, knowing the protocol right away on what to do.

   

• Effective User of Technology   

    I plan on learning different species migration patterns. It is beneficial to knowing this because the more you know about there environment the more you learn about the animal itself. You can also protect the area. This will make me more effective as a user of technology because to do this i will have to learn (or shadow) how to program and use micro chips and satellites. Also how to set up and camouflage video cameras.

Summer Mentorship Component

                                                       Baldwin Park Animal Shelter

                                                             Questions raised?

Literal (To know) 

•  Mentorship 

•  Contact:  Baldwin Park Animal Shelter                           626 430 2378 or 626 962 3577                            volunteer@animalcare.lacounty.gov   

Literal (Need to know)    

• How can you know if an animal is afraid or about to attack? What kind of signs do they show?

• What is the process of euthanasia? Is it required in some shelters? Is it cruelty?

• Do different breeds act different ways?   

• What are the laws and protection against animal cruelty?

 

 Interaptive: 

The most important thing I got from the whole experience was a chance to help animals that were abandoned and given another chance to have a good home. I was taught valuable experience on how to approach feral animals, deciphering body language (ears raised, tail low, dialiated pupils, etc.) All give always if an animal is happy, scared, questionable or willing to attack. 

                                                                      

 

Applied:

I've been training other volunteer trainees on the skills i aquired; How to properly clean kennels, disinfect, proper distribution of food, water and blankets. Also you have to be very clean and careful when handling the animals (Big or small.) Knowing the signs of which animals are sick and checking on ones that need care is an important part I do when I visit the shelter.

I think that this helped me confirm my topic of interest because I have an overwhelming sense of pride when I see an animal I was helping the day before get adopted by a loving family. I feel like I can help a lot in the animal community. But I would like a chance at a bigger overall topic (in my opinion) I would like to help and research wildlife.