Growing up, I always wanted to pursue a career that combined working with animals and biological science. When it came time for college, I attended San Diego State University (SDSU), graduating with a BS in zoology and a minor in chemistry. I initially planned to pursue a career as a marine biologist and had wonderful experiences working part-time as a volunteer aquarist, then as a docent with the education department at the Scripps Aquarium in La Jolla, and finally as a student employee at the Naval Ocean Systems Center Marine Mammal Center in Point Loma.