My Community Contribution
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The technological community is vast and wide, involving most of the population in some way, whether it be cellphones, social media, automobiles, and even street and traffic lights. Officially, my contribution to this community will lie within the network administration field, as I am currently studying Network Engineering at UAT, but, as I am still learning the in’s and out’s of that, I would actually like to discuss a completely different sector, wildlife endangerment. My interest in this subject began when I was 13 years old, I did something an ignorant boy does and got myself in trouble with the law involving an airsoft gun. My punishment for this was court-ordered community service. Hearing this news was dreadful for me as I had no idea what it would be like. Thankfully, I had my mother, who has always said she likes animals more than people, and she suggested I serve my time at the Safari Sanctuary in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
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I took my mother's advice and served my time at the Sanctuary, but it did not feel like “serving time” whatsoever. I met amazing people that have been all around the world helping endangered species, I did amazing things like feed a pack of wolves, helped remodel a house for employees, and even drove a go-cart alongside some horses! In fact, I had such a good time there, that after my 70 hours of service was up, I stayed there helping until the end of the summer. While this situation may have begun as punishment, I’m very grateful that it turned out this way, as it gave me a sense of what’s going on in the world outside of tiny Oklahoma, and that there are amazing animals and people working together to make a change.
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Since then, I have been employed, attending college, married, and had my son, so wildlife endangerment (outside of saving my two kitties!) has not been a subject I have had much time to pursue. However, now that I am reminded by this essay, I’ve investigated what differences I can make in this community now, and it seems there are many. Simple solutions at home can even make a difference, such as speaking with your friends and family about endangered species in your area, reducing water consumption in your home, avoiding buying plastic products, and especially littering with them, etc. These are considered the smaller, yet vital contributions, while the larger ones would include pressuring civil servants to improve laws involving animal wellbeing, finding stray pets new homes, and of course volunteering at shelters such as the Safari Sanctuary. I certainly intend to implement the smaller contributions mentioned, but I also intend to volunteer once again at a shelter, this time without a court mandate. Upon researching sanctuaries in my area, it seems the closest is the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC). Soon, I plan to reach out to the SWCC and ask if any volunteer work is needed and schedule a day out every week to do so. I am excited to once again offer my contributions to this community, especially if it involves feeding wild animals again!