(X-minute read)
I have officially reached the end of my scholarship year and it is a bittersweet feeling but I am excited to see where I go from here. This past month I have been finishing end of year admin, applying to jobs, catching up with my friends and family, and taking time to deeply reflect on the amazing year I have had!
At the beginning of my year, I aimed to focus on advanced diving, marine science/conservation, and community outreach. I am pleased to say I was able to accomplish exactly that and more!
A huge thing I learned this year is that I am on the right path. It is no secret that I was a late bloomer when it came to pursuing marine science and after this scholarship year, I know this is the career for me. I love this field and I am truly interested in pursuing marine research to better understand and protect what it is in and around the ocean in the near future. Working within the underwater world allows you to meet amazing people, see amazing things, and make tangible differences and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
I also know I am eager to continue with community outreach. I personally am a product of organizations who prioritized community outreach and working with marginalized groups. I am a product of people who had a love for something and wanted to share it with as many people as they could and I want to continue paying that kindness forward in any way I can.
This year I also had the privilege to see different parts of the world and be exposed to new cultures, new ideas, and ways of thinking. With every new experience there were many conversations with hosts to learn more about the area and its context. I came into this year knowing very little about the world, and while I still have a lot to learn I feel like this whole year has been an amazing start.
If you are curious about what is next for me, I will be working at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon as seasonal dive staff, volunteering with Love the Oceans (a past host) to work on their social media platforms, and finding my place as a volunteer for the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society.
Overall, I have had a beyond phenomenal year and my life is forever changed. Thank you all so much for everything!
Thank you to my sponsors, my hosts, the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society volunteers, my friends, and my wonderful family for the support you provided during this amazing year — I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without you. I am excited to see where I go from here and I hope to see some of you again above or below the water.
A huge and final thank you to the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society and our sponsor Rolex for making this scholarship experience a possibility. I would also like to thank Reef Photo and Video, Nauticam and Light and Motion for the underwater camera setup as well as Aqualung, Fourth Element, Suunto, Halcyon, and DUI for my diving equipment.
Want to keep in touch and see what I do past my scholarship year? Follow me on Instagram and don’t be shy, say hello!
