蘑菇短视频senior Carly Douthit educates others in aquarium internship
Carly Douthit holds a sea urchin.
Just a few months ago, Carly Douthit was submitting applications in a frenzy, looking for any summer internship that involved animals.
She probably couldn鈥檛 tell you which ones she applied to 鈥� except one in Florida.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium reached out to interview, and now, her summer is going swimmingly. Douthit, a biology major at 蘑菇短视频, is working for the nonprofit organization and aquarium as an education camp intern.
鈥淚t's been really, really fun,鈥� Douthit said. 鈥淚've never moved out of Western North Carolina by myself, so that was what was most interesting, and then when I got down here, the work environment, I love them so much. They're so much fun.
鈥淓veryone's so nice, and it's just so much fun to get to interact with everybody and the animals. It's crazy.鈥�
As an education camp intern, Douthit leads a different group of teens each day through educational presentations, games and adventures, like snorkeling. She also teaches her group how and why CMA rehabilitates animals.
鈥淚 get to teach them. I get to watch them get excited about things. I get to tell them what I'm passionate about, and hopefully, push them to do it,鈥� she said.
Douthit is on the pre-veterinary track at WCU, and this internship has provided her with more than just knowledge.
鈥淚 really want as many hours interacting with people and animals as I possibly can, and this internship is allowing me to do both,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 get to learn about the animals myself, and then I get to educate others, which just further burns it into my brain.鈥�
And it鈥檚 taught the Topton native more about what she wants to do beyond WCU.
鈥淭his internship has given me a great look into the aquatic veterinary world, but it has also made an appreciation for the field I have chosen to grow larger,鈥� Douthit said. 鈥淚 love sea life and the ocean, but if anything, this is pushing me increasingly towards my goal of (working at) a large animal rescue or clinic in the future.鈥�
As she returns to Cullowhee in the fall, Douthit hopes to make the most of her final year of undergrad.
鈥淚'm hoping to just take that and the people skills that I'm developing and just run with it and just try to make some friends, try to get a study group going and just trying to get as into school as I possibly can,鈥� she said.