My name is Audrey Painter. The majority of my life has been dedicated to seeking out and learning more about the natural world and the wildlife that inhabit it. Since I was a kid growing up in the piedmont of North Carolina, I have always gone out of my way to explore every creek or woodland I found. My parents had their hands full with me asking to drive to the mountains and go hiking every weekend. They were sure my years of being a rowdy outdoorsy kid would pass, but I never grew out of it. To this day exploring and hiking continue to be my favorite activities, and when I found out that I could actually base my career around the aspects of nature I adore, I was immediately sold. Once I was old enough, I began seeking out volunteer positions. I worked as an animal care volunteer at the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina for approximately three years. There I presented environmental education programs to children of various ages as well as cared for the daily needs of 40+ different species of reptiles, insects, aracnids, and mammals. I volunteered at this establishment right up until the summer I got accepted to the University of Georgia, which is when I turned 18. I was finally able to start seeking out temporary paid jobs, and I ended up becoming a seasonal employee at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. This center is based around promoting the value of outdoor and nature-related activities, and offers many opportunities for guests to experience. From trails, to ziplining, to whitewater rafting, my job there has been thoroughly entertaining, and has helped me even further appreciate the outdoors. Currently, when I am not working, I am busy away at college. Becoming a student in Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources college at UGA gives me the ability to professionally kickstart my life in the Wildlife sciences field, and I am actively working hard to make my hopes for my career a reality.