This document provides biographical information about a 37-year-old pre-veterinary student seeking to become a veterinarian specializing in herpetology. They were adopted as an infant after being born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. They direct a reptile rescue and education center called Clinton Critter Care in Missouri in their community. Their goals are to attain their veterinary doctorate, open an affordable animal health practice, and serve as a role model for others overcoming challenges.

1. Biography and General Information
I am a 37 year old pre-veterinary student in Missouri eventually seeking my veterinary doctorate
specializing in Herpetology but am currently attaining my BS in Biology (Pre-veterinary) from the
University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri.
I am a first generation college student, and I was an adopted child as my biological mother was
addicted to heroin and alcohol while she was pregnant with me. I was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome when I was born and have faced numerous challenges due to family life. I was adopted by
my maternal grandmother at 2 weeks of age, and after my grandfather passed from heart disease in
1988, I was repeatedly sexually molested and raped by my grandmother's boyfriend and have been in
therapy for a very long time due to this. I am currently on social security disability which I have been
on since 2005, for bipolar disorder as well as many various gastrointestinal illnesses including a hiatal
hernia, idiopathic gastroparesis, and diverticulosis.
I refuse to let my disabilities and the challenges I've faced define my life, and have set a goal to not
only overcome my disabilities, but to become a licensed veterinarian in order to save animal lives and
improve the quality of the world around me. I strive daily to be the best person I can be, and do to
what I can to help others to overcome their own life challenges. I hope to serve as a role model to other
students who come from a difficult background to let them know that with dedication and
perseverance, absolutely anything is possible, and to never ever give up.
Short Term and Long Term Goals
My short-term goals include achieving my pre-veterinary BS with a GPA of above 3.5, to learn as much
as I can about my field of study, and using my knowledge to further public education about animal care
and husbandry in the field of herpetology and small animal care through my reptile and amphibian
rescue and educational program, Clinton Critter Care.
My long-term goals are to achieve my veterinary doctorate, and be able to go on to specialize in
herpetology. I hope to open a low-cost practice to make health care for animals not only a priority, but
affordable as well.
I hope to serve as a role model for others who wish to dedicate themselves to the field of animal rescue
and veterinary medicine, and to demonstrate that no matter what setbacks a person may experience in
their lives, with dedication, perseverance, and passion, one can achieve any goal they set for
themselves in life.
Another long-term goal of mine is to perform research in many areas of veterinary medicine that will
serve as a breakthrough in animal and perhaps even human medicine in the future.
Your most significant endeavor since attending college in which you applied your academic or
intellectual skills learned through your college education to benefit your school, community or
society.
I have used many of the things I have learned in all of my classes, but most especially my biology,
wildlife conservation, and public speaking classes, to give educational presentations to local boy and
girl scout troops, schools, and businesses to promote education and awareness of herpetology. Our
mission is to create preservation through education by stressing the importance of not introducing a

2. non-native species into the ecosystem, and by providing a basis for public education on the subjects of
public safety and wildlife preservation and conservation.
Clinton Critter Care is a reptile and amphibian rescue and educational center which I am the Director
of, and also a volunteer at. They have a toll free 24/7 reptile helpline at 1-816-659-FANG which I
volunteer to answer many reptile questions on, using the knowledge acquired in my collegiate career.
emergency calls that come through 911 dispatch involving reptiles.
As I used to be the paid manager of the Clinton Animal Shelter for two years before beginning my own
non-profit reptile rescue and educational program, the police and animal control know that I have
extensive experience and knowledge in the area of animal rescue, and that I am uniquely qualified to
assist on snake and reptile complaints or rescue calls.
It is due to my knowledge acquired through my collegiate endeavors during the past two years I have
been enrolled in college that I am able to take these efforts to rescue lost, abandoned, neglected, or
abused animals to the next level. Everything I have learned since beginning my college career has in
As the director of Clinton Critter Care, I am on call 24/7 to help assist the Clinton Police Department as
well as Clinton Animal Control Officer Charles Barnett with any animal control or animal-at-large calls
involving snakes or other reptiles. Central dispatch often calls me directly for me to assist on one way
or another served to further my knowledge of biology, chemistry, and many other subjects that help me
to further help animals and their human companions.
A specific example of how college has helped me to benefit my community is how I used my public
speaking class to become a more effective and confident public speaker, in order to give better public
presentations for my reptile rescue.
Describe how you have demonstrated your leadership ability related to your field of study at your
college or university within organizations, clubs, or associations with which you are affiliated.
Director of Clinton Critter Care reptile and amphibian rescue, re-homing, and educational center of
Missouri. Public educational presentations on herpetology at local schools, boy scout and girl scout
troops, and local businesses. We also offer rescue and re-homing to lost, abandoned, neglected, or
abused reptiles and amphibians.
I spend between twelve and fifteen hours a week offering free tutoring to other students at my college
in the fields of English and Biology during school hours at the convenience of other students.
I am also an active member of Phi Theta Kappa National Honor's Society as well as being an active
member of the following student organizations at the University of Central Missouri: The Wildlife
Society, Tri-Beta, and The Pre-Veterinary Club.
Why do you feel your field of study is important in today’s society? Detail what inspired you to
select this field of study as your professional aspiration and how will your field of study
contribute to your short and long term goals.
As I am studying to become a veterinarian specializing in herpetology, and endeavor to assist the
animals of this world as well as their human companions. My acquired medical knowledge will
contribute to health and well being of animals of all kinds, including reptiles, amphibians, and other
domestic animals.

3. I have spent the majority of my life dedicating myself and my goals to animal rescue, rehabilitation,
and the preservation of species through public education. I was inspired to begin college to expand my
efforts of animal rescue into being able to medically assist all animals as well.
I have used many of the things I have learned in all of my classes, but most especially my biology,
wildlife conservation, and public speaking classes, to give educational presentations to local boy and
girl scout troops, schools, and businesses to promote education and awareness of herpetology. Our
mission is to create preservation through education by stressing the importance of not introducing a
non-native species into the ecosystem, and by providing a basis for public education on the subjects of
public safety and wildlife preservation and conservation.
Clinton Critter Care is a reptile and amphibian rescue and educational center which I am the Director
of, and also a volunteer at. They have a toll free 24/7 reptile helpline at 1-816-659-FANG which I
volunteer to answer many reptile questions on, using the knowledge acquired in my collegiate career.
As the director of Clinton Critter Care, I am on call 24/7 to help assist the Clinton Police Department as
well as Clinton Animal Control Officer Charles Barnett with any animal control or animal-at-large calls
involving snakes or other reptiles. Central dispatch often calls me directly for me to assist on
emergency calls that come through 911 dispatch involving reptiles.
As I used to be the paid manager of the Clinton Animal Shelter for two years before beginning my own
non-profit reptile rescue and educational program, the police and animal control know that I have
extensive experience and knowledge in the area of animal rescue, and that I am uniquely qualified to
assist on snake and reptile complaints or rescue calls.
It is due to my knowledge acquired through my collegiate endeavors during the past two years I have
been enrolled in college that I am able to take these efforts to rescue lost, abandoned, neglected, or
abused animals to the next level. Everything I have learned since beginning my college career has in
one way or another served to further my knowledge of biology, chemistry, and many other subjects that
help me to further help animals and their human companions.
There is a high demand for herpetology veterinarians and I hope to be able to expand further work in
this field through research and study throughout my collegiate career.
Special Circumstances
I was a member of the United States Navy as an Aviation Electrician's Mate beginning in 1996,
attending boot camp at Great Lakes, IL (Division 169) in January of 1996, then going on to attend A-
School on base at Millington, TN.
I have survived many life challenges, and despite the cards which life has dealt to me, I have overcome
the odds and have struggled through much to be able to achieve everything I am so proud of achieving
in my life. I hope to serve as an inspiration and role model to others who may think they are not able to
attend college, make something more of themselves, or to contribute to their community or society due
to obstacles they have faced in life.