In May 2023, Ana Felix graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in recreation, sport and park administration from the department of kinesiology.
Felix went into the field of recreation with the hopes of channeling it into after-school programs. Now with her work at Wonders of Wildlife, she can do that on a bigger scale.
“Recreation is all of those things that really improve people’s lives and it gave me the opportunity to explore the things I enjoy doing,” she said.
Finding her career path at MSU
From Ava, Missouri, Felix originally chose MSU to stay closer to home, but she quickly found her own path here.
As a non-traditional student working fulltime, Felix said MSU gave her “the opportunity to explore different interests and choose her own adventure.”
In the recreation program, Felix had to complete 100 hours in practicum and 400 hours in an internship. Felix notes she was grateful for these requirements aiding in her growth.
“Getting to do enriching things that still counted for college credits was something I really appreciated. To have a well-rounded base gave me opportunities and skills in job interviews to be able to better market myself,” she said.
How volunteering turned into a full-time job
Felix began working at Wonders of Wildlife in May 2022. She started as a practicum student fulfilling the service-learning component of her recreation program.
While Felix was still a practicum student, the volunteer manager asked if she would like to take on the volunteer coordinator position that was open. Eager to try something new, she seized the opportunity.
Felix describes her role as ever-changing. But she is primarily responsible for the recruitment, retention appreciation and onboarding of volunteers and interns for Wonders of Wildlife, Dogwood Canyon and Top of the Rock.
“I love that I get to say I started as a volunteer and then moved up to being the volunteer coordinator,” Felix said.
Lessons learned
Through Felix’s time at MSU and Wonders of Wildlife, collaborating and using her time wisely are two of the biggest lessons she learned.
“There’s been projects where I’ve had months in advance to prepare and some where we’ve had to pivot with a 30-minute notice. Those situations have helped me to figure out how to manage my time efficiently and to see the importance of having good connections around you to guide you through,” she said.
In her volunteer coordinator role, Felix has honed her leadership skills. This has helped to improve on having tough conversations to grow connections with those around her and be more proactive with her work.
Future plans
Felix plans to continue pursuing her passion in recreation with Wonders of Wildlife.
“My job isn’t a boring office job,” she said. “Every day is different and interesting.”