Disclaimer: The views expressed by our interviewees are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of GradSimple. We only edit these responses for clarity. All opinions remain those of the interviewee.
- Name: Annie Grace D.
- Year Of Graduation: 2021
- College/University: Appalachian State University
- Major: Sustainable Development
What do you do for a living? Can you share what a typical day at work (and/or school) looks like?
I currently work in environmental education at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Half my job consists of driving a double-decker bus filled with about 100 people at a time and giving them 40-minute informational tours about the zoo’s history, the wildlife living there, and the conservation efforts that the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance focuses on worldwide. The other half of my workday is spent as a narrator/ interpreter for the two Giant Pandas who now reside at our zoo, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao. We are the first zoo in the United States to welcome back pandas, and I’m honored to be one of the few people who teach guests about their importance in culture and conservation.
Can you tell me about your job search experience after graduation? Does your job have anything to do with your degree?
I graduated from college at the peak of COVID-19. My original plan was to go into the Peace Corps, but that got canceled due to the pandemic. I moved back in with my parents for about 7 months and was working as a server during that time. I was making good money but was unsatisfied. None of the 9 to 5’s I was applying to were reaching out, so I decided to move to Hawaii and work in agriculture for a few months. After that, I moved to Las Vegas with my best friend and we became National Parks tour guides with licenses to guide in parks like Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Arches, and more. Most recently, I’ve been working at the zoo in conservation education. All of these jobs are related to my major somehow, but never anything I would’ve imagined doing in the past.
Why did you choose your undergrad major? Would you still pick this major now, if you could go back in time?
I chose to study sustainable development because I value the natural world and feel that it is important to preserve it as much as we can. If I could go back, the only thing I would do differently would be to either minor in business or study sustainable business instead just because I could make more money in the business field.
If I asked you 3 years ago, what would you think you’d be doing right now (in life/career)?
Three years ago, I had just graduated from college and had no idea what life was gonna look like in the future. My only real goal at that point was to move somewhere on my own and essentially…“adapt or die,” which is what I would tell people. I never had one specific place I planned on going. I never would’ve thought I would’ve moved to places like Hawaii, Las Vegas, Yellowstone National Park, or even San Diego.
What’s your biggest struggle right now?
My biggest struggle right now is moving from working in guiding to a more stable career that involves conservation but can pay me a salary wage with benefits.
If money was not a factor, what would you be working on or spending more time on?
If money was not a factor I would probably still be traveling on my own, learning about new cultures, the different struggles humans face across the globe, and how to help combat those issues.
What does a fulfilling life mean to you?
To me, a fulfilling life looks like a full table. A table that’s filled with friendly faces who you’ve met throughout the different chapters of your life. At this table, we share stories of the places we’ve been, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. Although the people sitting around this (hypothetical) table all know different versions of me, they know who I am at my core and that’s why they stick around. To share healthy food, love for the outdoors, and laugh belly laughs with people who were once strangers is where I find fulfillment.
If we traveled 3 years into the future of your life, what would you hope we’d see?
I hope you see someone who is at peace. I hope you’ll see me as a person who understands that life has ups and downs, but still continues to pursue her passions and interests. I want to be fluent in Spanish and have hiked to the top of Machu Picchu by then. I just want to continue to be intentional about how I spend my days. I hope 3 years down the line I’ll still write and hike as much as I do now.
What’s the biggest lesson or piece of advice you wish you’d known earlier?
Don’t let the idea of being different stop you from pursuing your goals. My dad once told me, “Only dead fish swim with the stream.” There are so many times I could’ve just followed the crowd and listened to everyone’s opinions of how I should live my life, but if I did I wouldn’t have the amazing life that I’ve gotten to experience in the last 3 years since graduating college.
Go after what you want, and stay true to yourself. What is meant for you will come to you.
P.S. There’s a TON more where this came from. Subscribe to GradSimple and get the good stuff delivered straight to your inbox!
