Meet Emily, a passionate wildlife advocate who found renewed purpose and lifelong connections through her transformative SOSA Adventures
1. What inspired you to join a SOSA tour, and how did it align with your values or passions?
Every moment I’m alive is a moment spent loving animals. There aren’t quite words to accurately describe the depth in which I respect and honor every living being on this planet. It’s the center of who I am as a human.
Something special I’ve noticed about SOSA is how selective they are with the organizations they partner with. It’s easy to see how much thought is put into the work they do. I hold wildlife conservation to a high standard and don’t impress easily. SOSA hasn’t disappointed me yet. They prioritize the right things and operate in ways I passionately support. Not only do I join these trips confidently, but I do it very proudly.
2. What was the most memorable moment or wildlife encounter you experienced during your SOSA trip?
Choosing a single moment seems impossible. My SOSA trips have blessed me with an abundance of moments that felt so special I often left them saying the stars must have perfectly aligned. Bringing us to exactly the right place at exactly the right time. On multiple occasions, we came across newborn baby animals with their mothers. There's something deeply profound about witnessing something as intimate and vulnerable as brand new life in the wild. Every one of these encounters were truly a gift.
3. How did participating in a SOSA tour change your perspective on wildlife conservation?
I’m grateful to have had a deep understanding of wildlife conservation since a young age. Due to my experience, these trips may not introduce me to necessarily brand-new perspectives, but they have done something just as impactful. They re-invigorated passions that had been lying dormant for quite a while. It’s easy to let life take over and get stuck in the mundane of what we must do to survive. My trips with SOSA remind me to prioritize in life what I care about most. To never neglect the things that fulfill my soul. There will always be a new corner of the Earth to explore and more animals to see. New people to meet and more adventure to be had. 2024 was one of the happiest years of my life and it’s no coincidence that year was full of experiences within this organization.
4. What connections did you build during your SOSA tour—with other guests, local communities, or the organizations we partnered with?
The connections I’ve built through SOSA have exceeded anything I could have hoped for. On every trip it’s been discussed how amazed we were of how easily we all got along. Sometimes it can be hard to meet other people in adulthood with the same values and passions as yourself. These trips introduce you to those who have qualities that are most easy for you to love. I have built some of the strongest relationships of my life because of SOSA and for that, I will always be grateful.
5. What would you say to someone considering joining a SOSA tour for the first time?
One of the greatest blessings we experience as human beings is the simplicity of being alive somewhere as magical as this planet. One day you are going to look back on your life and face every choice you made. Every chance you took and the ones you didn’t. Don’t be the person who faces the regret of what they were too scared to try. Be the person who did the wild thing even when it scared them. This type of trip can change the trajectory of your life, sometimes in ways you didn’t know were possible. All you have to do is allow it to happen.
Be Our Next Alliance Member!
Emily's story reminds us that sometimes the most transformative journeys begin with a single decision to embrace adventure. Her experiences showcase how SOSA trips not only connect us with wildlife but also with a community of like-minded individuals who share our deepest passions.
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