Scientist

This is a reconstruction of a conversation with one of my students today:

R: Miss Alice, are you going to become a scientist?

Me:  Um... (Unsure of where this line of questioning is going. Does he mean "when I grow up"? Because I am past the stage of growing up.) No, because I am already an artist.

R: But I think you can also be a scientist.

Me:  Why?!

R: Because you know a lot about animals.

Me: O thanks! (I chuckled nervously knowing that I have pulled off appearing knowledgeable to my students.)