Sasha Gupta

Every Saturday morning from the ages five to ten, I would sit cross-legged in front of the television to watch Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin. Aside from my many rescue missions of moving worms stranded on the pavement back into soil, that show was my first introduction to the larger world of animal conservation. I was captivated by the various adventures Jeff would go on. From observing American alligators in the Everglades to researching the effects of sound pollution on whales in the Pacific, I knew that there would be no career more fascinating than the one he did. His show, along with Wild Kratt’s and spending countless hours at my local nature center, instilled in me a deep love for the environment and all the wonderfully unique things that make it so special.

For as long as I can remember, caring about the environment has become a significant part of what makes me, me. My love for nature and animals was the driving force behind many of the endeavors I pursued both in and out of school. During the school year, I would fill my schedule with life science and agriculture classes, and my weekends would be spent volunteering at the Georgia Aquarium. I surrounded myself with the animals I grew up watching on TV, taking one step closer to my goal of working in wildlife conservation.

When it came time for me to go to college, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the University of Georgia, where I could fully immerse myself in the subject I had admired for so long. Now, I study Ecology, hoping to protect the planet so future generations can feel the same wonder I felt, all those years ago.