Daelen Simons ‘22, Zoo & Wildlife biology
Daelen Simons ‘22 wanted an opportunity to expand his knowledge and work hands-on with sea creatures, so he decided to pursue an internship at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo (BAMZ). Simons grew up in Bermuda, and went to BAMZ as a child, so he knew that they could provide him with a meaningful experience.
Ohio is a long way from Bermuda, and Simons might say that he came for one reason and one reason only.
“I originally wanted to come to Ohio because of LeBron James but I guess I should have gone to California instead,” he said, laughing. “In all seriousness, I chose Malone because of its Christian aspect and the zoo biology program. Working with a zoo on campus has been a really cool experience. I'm happy I chose Malone. Here, I’ve met a lot of amazing people who have helped me become who I am today.”
Simons came to Malone hoping to find his calling and quickly began gaining valuable knowledge to help him do so. When it was time to seek out internship opportunities, Simon contacted BAMZ and was able to place the job.
“My public speaking course has helped me talk more confidently with visitors about BAMZ and all the animals, especially as I shared important background information like the history of the animals at our facility, their traits, and fun facts,” said Simons.
Simons enjoyed exploring a variety of different assignments during his time at BAMZ.
“One of my main duties was daily enrichments, used to keep animals physically and mentally stimulated,” Simons said. “This mainly occurs when we change up meals and activities for each different type of species. All enrichments affect animals physically because they have something new to interact with and mentally because it gives them a problem to solve in order to get a reward: their food. Enrichments keep them active and healthy. Our octopus needs the most activity because she is a complex creature, so she can have more complicated enrichments. Some of my other tasks included animal weigh-ins, food preparation, tank maintenance, scuba diving, and animal photography.”
As a child, Simons had limited experience with scuba diving and thought his experience at BAMZ was the perfect time to practice.
"I am so glad I got certified for scuba diving," he said, “because now I am able to dive almost anywhere in the world. My certification allows me to dive down to 100 feet! At BAMZ’s North Rock Lagoon, I used my diving skills to help with the daily cleaning of the acrylic viewing window and could interact with some of the species in the tank including our three nurse sharks and two cownose rays. It was a thrilling experience!”
Simons encourages others to go after their dreams, to try new things, and to visit BAMZ at least once.
“After college, I see myself working in an aquarium or in marine rehabilitation. I’m still open to other types of careers but I think those would be ideal for me,” said Simons. “I thank BAMZ for teaching me more about the things I enjoy most.”