UF Butterfly Garden Gaitana Jaramillo

The University of Florida's butterfly and moth exhibit houses more than 10 million variations of 10 million species! When I read that fact I couldn’t believe it. Each critter displayed in those glass cases is completely unique; now multiply that by 10 million and you have one of UF's hidden treasures. Yet the heart of the treasure lies within the Butterfly Rainforest, a habitat with 80 different species of lepidoptera. Next to the Natural History Museum these insects of all different wingspans, colors, and sizes live alongside each other happily. Stepping into this green oasis was a enlightening experience, as I had never had the opportunity to be around as many butterflies before. The feeling was close to euphoric, as all these winged creatures flew around me.

Much like the butterfly in its chrysalis, I found that high school was a preparatory stage in my life, a transitional period when I was never certain of what or who I wanted to be and was, moreover, very unsure of my upcoming choices in education. I subjected myself to hours of useless Google searches on different career options, but often ended up frustrated. I would give up. I was scared I would never find my calling and the thought of choosing the wrong path...