Mallory's Internship in Australia
Donation protected
It is safe to assume that children change their minds; they love the color pink one day, they hate it the next. One day they want to be an artist, the next week they are determined to be an astronaut. That is, most children except me. From the very first time I was asked what I wanted to be when I grow up, I have always responded, without hesitation, that I want to be a zookeeper. Many laughed it off, thinking it was just a phase, but here I am; twenty years old and wanting nothing more than to work in a zoo surrounded by exotic animals all dependant on my care and attention.
My interests growing up and my interests now have not changed. My life still revolves around my horses and school. At Murray State University I am a junior working towards my Bachelors of Science degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology in the area of Zoological Conservation. Because I knew from a young age exactly what I want to do with my life, choosing this major came easily. Since my freshman year, there has been no doubt in my mind that I will be graduating in this program. My other passion besides school is rodeo. The Murray State University Rodeo Team allows students to bring their horses with them to compete. Therefore, when I am not in class or working as a dog groomer at a local pet grooming shop, I am at the barn riding and caring for my horse.
Although I have never had the opportunity to work with exotic animals, my experience with horses has compelled me to learn more, be involved, and work towards becoming a large mammal zookeeper. I am completely fascinated by the large mammals found in zoos and have made it my ultimate goal to work with them. But it is all about building blocks. My foundation was laid with my experiences with horses. This gave rise to my decision to study Zoological Conservation.
My next goal is completing an internship, and of all the places around the world, where would you guess to have the most prestigious zoos? That’s right... Australia! My goal is to intern at the world famous Australia Zoo in Australia over a period of 6 weeks during the summer of 2015. I chose to intern over the summer because I will not be taking classes while over there and do not want to get behind here at Murray with my academics. Murray State University provides students with study abroad opportunities through programs such as GlobaLinks. With GlobaLinks, my experience will consist of more than just an internship. The program itself costs right around $4,300 (this is dependent on which zoo I end up interning at) and includes a multi-day Bridging Cultures Program orientation, guaranteed housing, health insurance, onsite support, pre-departure services, flight advice and booking options, a pre-paid cell phone, some meals, and organized day trips. The plane ticket to Australia can range anywhere from $2,100 to $2,800 depending on the time of travel. Finally, I will be responsible for paying for most of my meals, transportation, and any extra fees during that six weeks. I have determined that with a total of $8,000, my intern trip to Australia can become reality! Any additional funds I can generate through study abroad scholarships or personal fundraising, I will be “donating” to myself on this website in order to keep everyone updated on my progress!
With the experience I gain by interning at a zoo abroad, I hope to learn the basics for animal care and management in a zoo setting. This amazing opportunity will help me learn exactly what it takes to work in a top zoo and better prepare me to work in a nationally recognized zoo here in the United States. With your help, I can achieve a lifelong dream of traveling to one of the world’s most famous zoo’s in Australia, advancing my academic experiences, and ultimately landing my perfect career! Any amount you are willing to donate will be greatly appreciated and accepted with my heartfelt thanks!
Thanks to all!
Mallory Shiplett
My interests growing up and my interests now have not changed. My life still revolves around my horses and school. At Murray State University I am a junior working towards my Bachelors of Science degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology in the area of Zoological Conservation. Because I knew from a young age exactly what I want to do with my life, choosing this major came easily. Since my freshman year, there has been no doubt in my mind that I will be graduating in this program. My other passion besides school is rodeo. The Murray State University Rodeo Team allows students to bring their horses with them to compete. Therefore, when I am not in class or working as a dog groomer at a local pet grooming shop, I am at the barn riding and caring for my horse.
Although I have never had the opportunity to work with exotic animals, my experience with horses has compelled me to learn more, be involved, and work towards becoming a large mammal zookeeper. I am completely fascinated by the large mammals found in zoos and have made it my ultimate goal to work with them. But it is all about building blocks. My foundation was laid with my experiences with horses. This gave rise to my decision to study Zoological Conservation.
My next goal is completing an internship, and of all the places around the world, where would you guess to have the most prestigious zoos? That’s right... Australia! My goal is to intern at the world famous Australia Zoo in Australia over a period of 6 weeks during the summer of 2015. I chose to intern over the summer because I will not be taking classes while over there and do not want to get behind here at Murray with my academics. Murray State University provides students with study abroad opportunities through programs such as GlobaLinks. With GlobaLinks, my experience will consist of more than just an internship. The program itself costs right around $4,300 (this is dependent on which zoo I end up interning at) and includes a multi-day Bridging Cultures Program orientation, guaranteed housing, health insurance, onsite support, pre-departure services, flight advice and booking options, a pre-paid cell phone, some meals, and organized day trips. The plane ticket to Australia can range anywhere from $2,100 to $2,800 depending on the time of travel. Finally, I will be responsible for paying for most of my meals, transportation, and any extra fees during that six weeks. I have determined that with a total of $8,000, my intern trip to Australia can become reality! Any additional funds I can generate through study abroad scholarships or personal fundraising, I will be “donating” to myself on this website in order to keep everyone updated on my progress!
With the experience I gain by interning at a zoo abroad, I hope to learn the basics for animal care and management in a zoo setting. This amazing opportunity will help me learn exactly what it takes to work in a top zoo and better prepare me to work in a nationally recognized zoo here in the United States. With your help, I can achieve a lifelong dream of traveling to one of the world’s most famous zoo’s in Australia, advancing my academic experiences, and ultimately landing my perfect career! Any amount you are willing to donate will be greatly appreciated and accepted with my heartfelt thanks!
Thanks to all!
Mallory Shiplett
Organizer
Mallory Shiplett
Organizer
Carbondale, IL
