By Ruby Buchholtz

Licked by wolves, dressed as a lobster, ate an oyster, assisted in a dissection of a harbor seal, used a chainsaw and began planning a volunteer event; and that all occurred in just one week of this amazing program. I have just begun the Americorps Cape Cod program and already I have pushed my limits of conformability to the maximum.

My individual placement, IP, is with IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which includes anything from data entry to restocking supply kits and dissecting marine mammals. Recently, at my IP I was asked to perform a level 1, which includes data recording and taking samples of the skin and jaw, on a decaying harbor seal that had washed up, and unlike most of the IFAW team I had never dreamed to work with dead sea life.

However, when would I ever receive another chance to do this (other than my next IP day)? Besides, the worst thing that could happen would be me fainting or possibly vomiting. So why not go for it?

Needless to say, I was nervous and disgusted more than I thought humanly possible. After numerous composure pauses and eruptions of nervous laughter I finished, and was extremely proud of myself. I had successfully accomplished something I had never known I would be able to do.