My parents were my two biggest inspirations ... but not because they were scientists. They taught my sisters and me to be independent and to question what we did not understand. After them, I'd say my biggest influences were three science teachers, in middle school, high school and college. They were hard teachers but also fair. They inspired me to want to learn and to continue my path with animals through science ... though I can only recently put that into words that I understand. When I was younger, it was just a feeling that I knew I would become a scientist.