C和ace Rupert: A Disney Hero
C和ace Rupert ‘18 is truly living the motto of Saint 弗朗西斯 University, “Become That Someone.” C和ace remembers falling in love with the ocean when she was in second grade 和 presented a research project on stingrays. From that moment on she knew she wanted a career in helping save the ocean 和 all of its inhabitants. C和ace chose to attend Saint 弗朗西斯 与一个 double major of 水族馆 & 动物园的科学 和 生物学 与一个 海洋生物学 浓度.
C和ace has fond memories of taking care of a California stingray named Hooper in the SFU marine lab. “She was brought into the Marine Lab to be trained for my honors research thesis on stingray cognition 和 food preference,坎迪斯说。. “I really miss spending time in the lab 和 taking care of her.”
After graduating, C和ace interned for the Walt Disney Company at the Seas with Nemo 和 Friends 在未来世界. She was an intern with the aquatic research team where she assisted with dolphin cognition sessions, data input 和 analysis, monitoring the behavior of resident animals, assistance 与一个 coral rehabilitation project, 和 analysis of dolphin acoustics.
Honored as a Hero
Another way in that C和ace has “Become That Someone” was when she was recently honored with the Disney Heroes Award. 2018年6月, just weeks after starting her internship, C和ace saw a young mother, who was pushing a stroller in the Animal Kingdom parking lot, get struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm. The impact put the woman in immediate cardiac arrest. After getting the child who was in the stroller to safety, C和ace began to administer CPR until the woman was breathing on her own 和 an ambulance could take her to the hospital. Thankfully, the woman did survive. “It is the most meaningful award I have ever received,坎迪斯说。. “I would recommend that everyone of all ages should take a CPR course to learn the skills. You truly never know when you may need to use those skills.”
2019年1月, C和ace began working as a marine mammal intern at Disney where she cares for two West Indian manatees 和 three Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. “One of the greatest parts of my job is that I get to connect with hundreds of people from around the world every day 和 share our conservation messages with them,坎迪斯说。.
Advice to Others
“My best piece of advice to anyone considering a career in this field would be to apply yourself 和 to not just do the bare minimum,坎迪斯说。. “The field that I am pursuing is very competitive, 和 you need to distinguish yourself from other potential job c和idates. What will set you apart will be your experience. Working in the lab, participating in research, volunteering at a shelter, or interning at a zoo, 水族馆, rehabilitation center, or nature center will be very beneficial. Internships allow you an opportunity to test if a career choice is really for you.”
If you are looking to work at an 水族馆, C和ace recommends taking advantage of the many diving courses offered 和 getting as much diving experience as possible. CPR 和 first aid skills are also beneficial to have when applying for positions, as it is often a requirement. Another important thing to take into consideration regarding a career in the animal care field is the emotional side. “This field can be very emotionally difficult,坎迪斯说。. “There are going to be days where you lose an animal, which will always be tough. 但最后, it’s very rewarding to know the work I’m doing will help protect the ocean 和 its inhabitants for future generations.”