Leslie Nielsen's childhood was a difficult one, but he had one particular shining star in his life — his uncle, who was a well-known actor. The admiration and respect his uncle earned inspired Nielsen to make a career（职业）in acting. Even though he often felt he would be discovered to be a no-talent, he moved forward, gaining a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse and making his first television appearance a few years later in 1948. However, becoming a full-time, successful actor would still be an uphill battle for another eight years until he landed a number of film roles that finally got him noticed.

But even then, what he had wasn't quite what he wanted. Nielsen always felt he should be doing comedy but his good looks and distinguished voice kept him busy in dramatic roles. It wasn't until 1980—32 years into his career — that he landed the role it would seem he was made for in Airplane! That movie led him into the second half of his career where his comedic presence alone could make a movie a financial success even when movie reviewers would not rate it highly.

Did Nielsen then feel content in his career? Yes and no. He was thrilled to be doing the comedy that he always felt he should do, but even during his last few years, he always had a sense of curiosity, wondering what new role or challenge might be just around the corner. He never stopped working, never retired.

Leslie Nielsen's devotion to acting is wonderfully inspiring. He built a hugely successful career with little more than plain old hard work and determination. He showed us that even a single desire, never given up on, can make for a remarkable life.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), hundreds of marine(海洋的) species across the world come under endangered and critically endangered categories. Some of the endangered and recognizable marine species are named here.

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, also known as the Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle, is endangered as the rarest and smallest sea turtle.

Distributed throughout the Gulf of Mexico and U. S. Atlantic seaboard, they gather off the coast in northeastern Mexico and come ashore in large groups to lay eggs every year. As marine reptiles(爬行动物), they are threatened by oil spills, lack of food and marine pollution.

Vaquita

As a rare marine mammal, Vaquita is on the edge of extinction only a half-century after its first sighting.

Extensive fishing in the Gulf of California has endangered this marine species, resulting in a gradual drop in population since the 1940s. According to reports, there are only a dozen of these marine mammals left in the world since the percentage of dec line in their population was as much as90% since 2011.

Whale

Fin Whale is the second-largest mammal on the planet after Blue Whale and it is also a victim of hunting. According to estimates, the global population of Fin Whale ranges from below 100,000 to around 119,000.

Humpback Whale, another whale species, has also been listed as an endangered marine species. Before the introduction of the whaling moratorium (暂停) in 1966, the species was hunted for its fur, while the population dropped by 90%. Currently, around 2,500 Humpback Whales survive in the world.

Hawaiian Mon k Seal

A native of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Mon k Seal is one of the earless seals who live on warm beaches, unlike other seals.

According to recent research, only 1,400 Hawaiian Mon k Seals remain on the Islands. These seals are mainly threatened by predators like tiger sharks. Besides, other reasons like habitat loss and food limitation also contribute to their critical situation.

There are many ways to get involved and volunteer at the National Museum of American History. Becoming a Museum Ambassador is one of them. To learn more about this volunteer program, please see the descriptions below.

Museum Ambassadors at the American History Museum are a mobile source of information that helps bridge the gap between two other volunteer groups here at the museum—information desk specialists, who provide orientation (方向) assistance when guests arrive, and volunteer docents (讲师), who provide Highlights tours, facilitate hands-on demonstrations and circulate through many of our exhibitions to interact with visitors. Each year, our Museum Ambassadors help over 100,000 people get the most out of their visits by welcoming groups, circulating throughout the museum's public zones to answer basic questions, and directing visitors to programs and exhibitions of interest. The museum has also employed the Museum Ambassadors to assist with special projects and events as needed.

To learn more about what Museum Ambassadors do, check out what Larry has said, "As museum ambassadors, we get to share in the curiosity of a child, the nostalgia (怀旧) of returning visitors, the treasure hunt of students assigned to find important historical objects, and the amazement of those experiencing our eye on the nation's history for the first time. We can help recommend a meaningful museum visit just for you. There's more. We're also traffic cops when elevators and escalators break and extra eyes for museum security."

If you enjoy…

•interacting with diverse audiences, age groups and learning styles.

•working in an often busy and changing environment.

If you have…

•strong interpersonal and communication skills.

•an interest in history and communication.

If you can…commit to three shifts a month (weekday Ambassadors) or twice a month(weekend Ambassadors).

The museum is open 364 days a year, including weekends and holidays.

•handle frequent walking, standing, and talking.

To Apply

To learn more information about the application process, please contact Ruth Shirley.

NOTE: Acceptance into the program is subject to successful completion of an interview and background investigation.