Dive Into Your Imagination

Exam Day

I have been interested in animal medicine since I was in elementary school. Growing up, my family's two dogs gave me so much joy that I dreamed that when I was older, I would spend all of my time among animals. I always accompanied my parents on trips to our veterinarian, and I remember watching with wide eyes as the doctors listened to my dogs' hearts and offered them biscuits. I wanted their job!

Monday, October 13, 2008
I made it! Within my first week as a Mote intern, I have grown accustomed to stuffing thawed out frozen fish with vitamins and, for some animals, putting the fish on feeding sticks. This process creates a mess, but it is necessary to provide the best food and care for the animals I am helping to treat. I have also acquired over 20 mosquito bites – and that's just on one leg (while somehow nobody else in the office gets bit). I have returned to my rented condo after a long day to be greeted by a huge black snake in the bushes, a broken air conditioner, and my cat, who has discovered tiny pieces of fish bits that like to hide underneath my fingernails. This is definitely not the life of glamour – but then again, that's not what I signed up for.

First, I would like to introduce myself. I am a 23-year-old California girl, and a self-proclaimed, completely devoted, can’t-live-without-my-cat, always covered in pet hair, animal lover. My entire life has revolved around animals, and it is my dream to turn this into a career. My favorite animal is the dolphin, and ever since I saw “The Little Mermaid” when I was five years old, the ocean and the animals that live below its surface have fascinated me. So when the opportunity came for me to move across country to work at the prestigious Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, Florida, I accepted the internship eagerly!

Hi! My name is Rebecca, and I am the newest intern at Mote Marine Lab’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital! For the next few months I will be supporting the veterinary staff as they care for injured and sick dolphins, whales, and sea turtles. By sharing my adventures with you, I hope to give you an inside look on what is it like to work with some of the ocean’s most loved creatures. Join me in this experience of a lifetime!