What did you want to be growing up?
Ask A Biologist Monday 4/26/21
When I was really young I wanted to “own an aquarium”. Then I wanted to do what the people on the Nature documentaries did.
Answers from the Biologists:
To be Jane Goodall and I was on track, but now I think I’d have more impact on conservation closer to home.
First dream was NASA then corvid biologist (honestly still my dream job), then forest ecologist.
A wildlife vet. I went the bio route instead and pretty happy with my decision.
Park ranger with less human interaction.
Biologist
A veterinarian, then I wanted to work in a zoo. But always animals!
Highway patrol. I found my way to wildlife about 10 years after that didn’t play out.
Veterinarian
Veterinarian, actress, or model.
Be Eliza Thornberry-talk to animals, travel the world, and have cool adventures.
Work in nature. Just that, without anything more or less.
Veterinarian, but I never had the marks. After 3 attempts, here I am as a zoologist/ecologist.
Rodeo barrel racer, psychologist, US Marine, pop singer, filmmaker, veterinarian, and more.
Dig up dinosaur bones!
Work at a manatee rescue center.
First a paleontologist then a big cat zookeeper, now a mammalogist.
Dolphin trainer when I was young, then civil engineer because my sister was one, finally back to wildlife biologist.
Animal explorer, paleontologist, obstetrician, then wildlife biologist.
Paleontologist
I didn’t know. I grew up without any biologist role models, in a navy base. I just knew I loved animals.
Jockey. I was heartbroken when I grew 6 inches in high school! Then a vet, but once I found wildlife, I never looked back.
A paleontologist, but I’m very glad I decided to work with living species instead.
A dolphin trainer. Then a zoo keeper.
A paleontologist and find dinosaur bones.
Veterinarian then cake decorator.
Work for Nat Geo.
A pediatric surgeon because I was born with Craniosyntosis and had major facial/cranial surgery.
A marine biologist. I was particularly enamored with dolphins.
Marine biologist when I was really young. Then vet, then medical doctor due to family pressure. But in the end I really did become a marine biologist!
A cat
Jeff Corwin or Steve Irwin. Ended up pretty close!
Herpetologist
Marine biologist, then aquatic vet, then back to marine biologist.
Paleontologist. I loved the Jurassic Park movies growing up!
Horse trainer, massage therapist, cruise ship waitress. I didn’t know any scientists and especially anything with animals. I knew I didn’t want to be in an office.
Paleontologist, then veterinarian. I knew I wanted to work with animals!
I wanted to be a jockey. I literally outgrew that!
Veterinarian or Nat Geo Photographer
Something outdoors. With animals was a plus!
Childhood-orca sanctuary. Adulthood-disease ecologist. Day job-Biochemist
Neurosurgeon
A corporate controller (basically an accountant) like my dad.
A doctor or a lawyer
Dentist, but I realized how painful medical school would be and luckily fell in love with seabird conservation.
Veterinarian, interior designer, marine biologist, and now fisheries biologist.
A national park ranger.
Veterinarian
Crocodile Hunter 2.0
Play with tigers/be a tiger trainer (at 6 years old)
Veterinarian or an animal trainer
The person who cleans animals with Dawn soap after an oil spill like I saw in the commercials.
I volunteered with a Biologist when I was 15 and knew that’s what I wanted to do!
Paleontologist. Thanks Jurassic Park!
Marine biologist because of Nat Geo books, but now I study Botany and Chemistry.
Veterinarian.
A marine biologist then a zoologist, now a field biologist.
Veterinarian, now I’m looking to become a conservation officer instead.
“the female Indiana Jones”
Lepidopterist (a person who studies or collects butterflies and moths)
Veterinarian of some sort. All I knew was I wanted to work with animals.
Meteorologist. I wanted to do the weather on TV.
