Road to discovery: Zie Reed's untraditional path into animal sciences
"I never expected to find my place among the fields and barns of Purdue,” said Zie Reed, a sophomore majoring in Animal Sciences and a self-proclaimed “city kid” from South Side Chicago.
From the bustle of the city to farms and fields in Indiana, Reed’s journey is more than a change in scenery. It has also been the discovery of new passions. Agriculture seemed a world away, but a curiosity for science and a willingness to explore took Reed down an untraditional, eye-opening path into animal sciences.
Growing up with a love of science and being encouraged in STEM, Reed had several career interests over the years. “I was really into Legos and magnet tiles as a young kid, and that transitioned into Minecraft. I’ve also always had a love for art, and so from the beginning, my interests and passions were very diverse,” Reed said.
Attending Lake Forest Academy, a private high school in a northern suburb of Chicago, opened Reed’s eyes to various opportunities and career paths. The school introduced Reed to Purdue University during a college search.
“When Purdue came up, my mom was instrumental in getting me to apply. We knew it had a strong reputation and many great programs. The closeness to home for me was also really important,” Reed said.
A trip to West Lafayette left Reed feeling at peace. With so many interests, Reed decided to enter Purdue in exploratory studies.
“Starting in exploratory studies was extremely helpful for me,” Reed said. “I took a career planning class, which provided me with a variety of personality and career tests It also gave me the opportunity to meet and interview students in majors I had an interest in.”
A pivotal turning point came when Reed reached out to the animal sciences department to interview a student about the program. “I knew I didn’t want to go pre-vet, but I really had no idea about all that animal sciences offered,” Reed said.
“When I was interviewing the student, he pointed me to all the concentrations in the department. I learned more about the behavior and well-being concentration, and I knew that was right up my alley. That was it for me. My first semester was exploratory studies, and by my second semester I had found my home in animal sciences.”
In addition to majoring in animal sciences, Reed is pursuing a minor in forensic science. While that may seem like an unusual combination with animal science, it fits all the interests Reed has held for so long. “The advisers, teachers and other students at Purdue have been so great in helping me as I took my road to discovery to find my perfect fit,” Reed said.
Looking back, Reed understands that agriculture has always been a part of their life, even growing up in the city. “My family was always big on fishing, and as a kid, one of my favorite things was going to the zoo. Agriculture isn’t just happening in a cornfield or on a farm; it is all around. It has always been a part of my story. I just didn’t always see it,” Reed said. Reed says the opportunity to go to Kenya on a trip sponsored by their high school helped them to understand the global impact of agriculture.
I have found a strong community in the College of Agriculture that has been welcoming to me,” Reed said. “I was able to go to Agriculture Future of America (AFA) last semester in Kansas City, and that was a great experience for me to see that there are so many different kinds of people with different backgrounds in agriculture.”
While Reed settles into the world of agriculture, they are unsure of the exact destination but hopes it involves caring for the wellbeing of animals. Possibly working for a safari or a zoo. Reed has taken the beginning steps towards this by stepping into a student position at Purdue’s ASREC Dairy Unit.
Now, Reed is determined to show others — especially those from urban environments — that agriculture’s doors are open to everyone, and that the most meaningful journeys are often the ones nobody sees coming.
“Agriculture needs voices from diverse backgrounds and different experiences to continue to grow and thrive. I’m excited for my future and proud to be one of those voices,” Reed said.
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