My first job out of college was as a Domino’s pizza driver. I always believe in working, even if it was not my lifelong dream. I was a darn good pizza deliverer, too; I quit the day they talked to me about management training, and I realized I was trying to be the best deliverer they had ever had. I’m not achievement motivated at all…
This isn’t my first career – I actually changed careers at the age of 26. At the time I was working as a manager within a market research firm, but realized I was spending my free time volunteering for animal organizations. I tried out a number of things as a volunteer (including working with an animal actors’ organization – I determined I did not enjoy walking tigers on a leash), before I went to grad school in animal behavior.
Before I went to grad school, I tried out field work by volunteering on a research project in the Canadian Rockies. The focus was on the mating habits of bumblebees – quite amazing. I knew nothing about bumblebees when I started, and was even a bit afraid of them. The summer cured me of my fear.
I love to travel, and am fairly adventurous. Some favorite trips have included the Copper Canyon in Mexico, the Democratic Republic of Congo (to visit the Gorilla Research and Conservation Education Center – GRACE), and southern India. The least expensive hotels I’ve stayed in: $2.50 in the western Ghats in India (in a national park where we saw wild lion tailed macaques – so cool) and $5.00 at a hotel in Chihuahua City (overpriced).
I am endlessly fascinated by animal behavior – human and otherwise. In fact, I seriously considered studying clinical psychology, and in my early 20s even worked as a companion/caregiver for a gentleman with agoraphobia. It was fascinating, but I discarded that career when I realized that people have to want to change…
