I became a marine scientist because it combined my interest in how the world works and my love for animals. I love all animals, but especially the slimy, spiny, toothy, and misunderstood ones. When I was first attending college, I could spend hours reading about the migrations of leatherback turtles (over 10,000 miles per year!), or the intelligence of octopuses. I wanted to learn about animals and unravel their secrets all day long. I also knew that I wanted to choose a career that I felt like could help make the world a better place. This is why I became a researcher!
My favorite part about being a researcher is that it allows me to dive headfirst into life. I can move to another continent, live in the Amazon rainforest, surround myself with bull sharks, eat lemony ants straight off their lemony tree, and camp at volcanoes - all (mostly) in the name of science and my career! Because the science, and the knowing, takes the fear away. I know that I can move to another continent because while traveling alone can be scary, I was prepared and I knew what to do. I knew that it was ok to swim with the bull sharks because they don't see me as food. Lastly, lemony ants are delicious. Learning to look beyond the surface and more closely investigate the world around me has made me a better scientist and a better person. I love when I can share this with others, and when it inspires them to look deeper and be more brave also.
Careers in science and research aren’t the only way to spend your life exploring or do something meaningful! My kind of exploration means sleeping in the jungle and following mantas, but that is just my version.
