Following a successful career in Administration, I returned to learning through an Environmental Science Access to Higher Education course in, 2021. I am currently a second year undergraduate studying Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science BSc at University of the West of England, Bristol. I have a keen interest in biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and rewilding, continually looking to gain more experience in these areas through internships or volunteering as my degree progresses.Attending university as a mature student has encouraged me to make the most of a unique opportunity. I engage fully with my commitments, having been described as proactive because of my ambition to thrive in the fields of ecology and sustainability. The biggest take-home for me so far, is the importance of community inclusion within environmental work. The Wildlife and Society module, in partnership with Bristol Zoo Project, has dismantled the misconception that people and nature are separate. In fact, for conservation to be successful and resilient, communities and people must be considered and have an involved role within conservation frameworks. Therefore, my extracurricular involvement, for example active campaigning and student outreach, is building on the interpersonal skills vital for future employment.