Through The Lens: One Student's Mission to Protect Wildlife and Shift Perspectives

As part of a class assignment, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by one of my classmates and I wanted to share that interview here. 

Introduction: Kenny is a Zoology major at Oregon State University, a passionate wildlife photographer, and the founder of Wild Essence LA, a brand rooted in conservation storytelling. In our conversation, Kenny opened up about his journey back to school, his love for animals, and the exciting projects he’s building to make a difference. Here’s our conversation.

INTERVIEW

Interviewer: Hi Kenny! Let’s kick this off by having you introduce yourself.

Kenny: Hello! My name is Kenny. I’m from a small city called Seaside, California, and I’m currently a Zoology major at Oregon State University.

Interviewer: You’ve shared so many fascinating things during our conversations, and I’m excited for others to get a glimpse into your story. First off—what inspired you to go back to school, and why Zoology?

Kenny: It all started last year when one of my best friends, Ryan, graduated and shared the livestream link to his ceremony in our group chat. Watching him and his wife, Kim, walk the stage hit something in me. I’d never graduated with a degree before, and something about that moment just lit a fire in me.

Interviewer: That’s so powerful. And Zoology—why did that stand out?

Kenny: I’ve always had a deep love for animals. While other kids looked up to superheroes, my hero was Steve Irwin—the Crocodile Hunter. His passion for animals and conservation was infectious. After Ryan’s graduation, I reached out to him and told him I wanted to go back to school. He encouraged me to go for it. I started looking into online programs related to animals and found Oregon State’s 100% online Zoology degree. It all felt like it was aligning, so I enrolled—and here we are!

Interviewer: How’s the journey been so far? Were there any surprises or fears at the start?

Kenny: Oh, I was terrified. I honestly didn’t think I’d get in. In my earlier days, I went to a couple of junior colleges while playing basketball, but I never took school seriously. I dropped classes, failed some—I was just trying to get by. So when I applied to Oregon State, I didn’t include those transcripts out of fear they’d hurt my chances. But after I got accepted, my advisor told me I should send them anyway.

My first term was tough—it’s an 11-week quarter system. I took math (which I still hate, by the way) and chemistry, and surprisingly, I actually enjoyed chemistry! Now, I’m in my third term and holding a 3.4 GPA, which I’m really proud of.

Interviewer: That’s amazing, congrats! Now let’s shift gears and get a bit personal. You’re from Seaside, California—tell us what it was like growing up there.

Kenny: Seaside is this beautiful small city right next to Monterey. Growing up there was a huge influence on who I am. The wildlife, the ocean—it was all right outside my door. I spent a lot of time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is one of the top aquariums in the world. I’d wander the wharf as a kid, looking for sea lions, otters, fish—you name it. That curiosity never left me.

Interviewer: I heard you’re also into wildlife photography?

Kenny: Yeah, I got into it late last year. I invested in a good lens and started going out to shoot native wildlife in Southern California.

Interviewer: Your photos are incredible, by the way. What do you love most about wildlife photography?

Kenny: Thanks! For me, nature has always been my therapy. Even on my darkest days, being outside grounds me. Photography lets me tell a story. It helps educate people or even shift their perspective—like with coyotes. They get such a bad rap, but they’re just trying to survive like any other species. I’ve captured moments where they’re playing or showing a gentler side, and people have actually messaged me saying it changed the way they view them. That’s the real reward.

Interviewer: That’s beautiful. You also volunteer at a wildlife center, right?

Kenny: Yes, I volunteer at the California Wildlife Center. We care for native California species. I help with preparing diets, feeding, medicating, setting up habitats—and yeah, some days it's just cleaning and laundry. But every day there feels meaningful.

Interviewer: Do you see wildlife work as your long-term career?

Kenny: I do. I’ve spent most of my life working with dogs, but I always felt a deeper calling. I’m still figuring out exactly where I want to land in the wildlife field, but I know I’m on the right path.

Interviewer: Tell us about Wild Essence LA. It sounds like an amazing project.

Kenny: Wild Essence LA is a brand and platform I created to share stories from my adventures, support conservation efforts, and educate people on animal behavior and how to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Our website is almost finished, and we’re launching a clothing line on my birthday in August.

Interviewer: What kind of clothing can people expect?

Kenny: We’re starting with t-shirts and hoodies that feature designs and sayings centered around animals and conservation. It’s a creative way to raise awareness for endangered and local species.

Interviewer: What else will be featured on the site?

Kenny: I’m working on offering prints of my wildlife photography and a calendar for next year. But my favorite part is the blog. I’ve always loved writing, and now that I’m in a science writing class, I’m learning how to better articulate my thoughts. I can’t wait to start sharing species spotlights, stories, and conservation news.

Interviewer: You have so much going on! What upcoming projects are you most excited about?

Kenny: I’m going back to Seaside in September and planning to go on my first whale watching tour—hoping to see some orcas! I’m also launching a blog series where I visit accredited zoos and aquariums to review their facilities, focusing on animal care, habitat quality, and most importantly, their conservation efforts.

Right now I’m doing a research paper on how educating the public about the work zoos do can change public perception. The truth is, many zoos are doing vital conservation work that often goes unnoticed—and without them, some species might not exist today.

Interviewer: That’s so important. Kenny, thank you so much for your time. You’ve got such an inspiring story and so many meaningful projects on the horizon. Where can people follow your journey?

Kenny: Thank you! You can follow me on Instagram @wildessencela and check out the website at www.wildessencela.com for all things wildlife, merch, and blog updates.

Interviewer: We’ll definitely be following along. Keep doing great things!

Kenny: Appreciate it. Thanks again!