Welland girl gets experience of lifetime through National Geographic
And Barbie helped make her dream reality
Anisha O’Brien is only 10 years old but she’s already a perfectionist when it comes to reviewing the many photos she takes on a daily basis.
And she’s also enjoying a little bit of fame after being one of four young girls in the country selected as a winner in a contest through a partnership between Barbie and National Geographic.
The ‘You Can Be Anything’ competition named one girl as a recipient in four categories — each striving for success in different possible careers — a polar marine biologist, a wildlife conservationist, an astrophysicist, and a wildlife photographer, in which O’Brien was chosen the winner.
The Diamond Trail Public School student who will be entering Grade 5 in September learned about the contest through Facebook and she and her mother Trisha decided to enter.
They submitted a photo of Anisha and an essay highlighting her love for animals and photography.
Shortly after, they were notified that Anisha had been chosen and that they would be heading to New Brunswick for a hands-on experience with renowned wildlife photographer Colleen Gara.
“I was happy and screaming very loudly,” Anisha said in an interview at her Welland home about receiving the news that she had been chosen.
Anisha and Gara spent three days together on the ocean last month – snapping photos of whales,
seals, eagles and many other species.
Collecting pieces from the iconic doll brand is also one of the young girl’s greatest interests — and so is taking photographs. Entering the contest seemed like a perfect fit, said her mother.
“She’s a fanatic for Barbie — and she’s been taking photos since she was two,” explained Trisha.
She brings her instant camera with her everywhere she goes and also uses the family camcorder to capture memories, as well as her mother’s iPhone.
Asked about the trip to New Brunswick, she said it is a memory she will cherish forever — despite the weather conditions on the water.
“It was good – but it was cold,” she said.
Her favourite part of snapping a photo?
Assessing the quality afterwards, she explained.
“I love to see how the picture turns out — if it’s good or not,” said Anisha, who also spends time taking classical piano lessons, swimming, doing gymnastics, and making homemade bracelets and necklaces.
Anisha was born in China and adopted by Trisha and Mike O’Brien when she was 11 months old.
“She’s the best thing that ever happened to us,” said Trisha.