I never really knew what I was going to be "when I grow up". And all of a sudden, I'm grown up. I have people working under me, my name in training manuals appears under "coordinator" and "direct supervisor". No one ever prepared me or gave me the introductory course to the "real world". I'm not going to lie, it is strangely overwhelming, and yet, freeing.
My first day on the job i was handed a 5 inch thick training, shown my cubicle and said good luck. My manager left two weeks later. She was great, she showed me everything she could in the short period of time. Her final email put me as the "go to" for the department. Suddenly, I was being pounded with questions, phone-calls, emails, concerns, applications, ideas, planning...eek! Wait! Pump the breaks! What did I just get myself into?! I accepted a job as an Education Associate. I understood I would be taking on the volunteer coordinator position as well, but wow!
All of my previous experience in education was hands-on and interactions for people. I was always relaying scientific information to a non-scientific audience. All of a sudden, I was putting all of my knowledge into docents and volunteers and hoping they can take my knowledge out into the park. I give lectures, and when I can find the time, venture into the park for 1:1 education...but the majority of my duties are making schedules, phone calls, and reservations. Strange...
It is neat to be bale to take stuff that I am genuinely interested in and concerned about, study it, learn it and pass it on to others to venture out int the world and do the "dirty" work. Than I go back to my desk and start devouring new environmental impacts and knowledge to regurgitated onto my docents.
As much as I do enjoy this, there were (and sometimes are) concerns I had to find peace with. I love the ocean and I truly believe that the key to conservation is knowledge of the impacts we can have on our environments. I just assumed I would be putting that knowledge into people's heads by field work, on-site, hands-on experiences. But alas, no. Than I started my internship at Dolphin Quest and assumed maybe rehabilitation was the way to go. I had a bit of a morally rough time/infatuation with the idea of training marine mammals under human care. I, based on my opinions and experiences, have formatted conclusions in regards to marine mammals (and all animals) under human care. These opinions are neither yay or nay and are based on a case-by-case basis. I will keep this opinions to myself.
So where I have come to peace with y desk job? The fact that from a financial standpoint, I am lucky to have a steady, full-time, well-paid position. I make more than some friends, not as much as others. Quite honestly, not as much as I feel I should be making...but I get to make a real impact on people in education them on marine stewardship issues that mean a lot to me. I have the freedom to develop curriculum to enhance the State of Hawaii's future generation of marine conservationists. I live in Hawaii...if that isn't reason enough.
Coming from someone who has done almost EVERYTHING in the marine science world..I really do enjoy education. I have done research, training, lab work, field work, school work, outreach, education, husbandry, you know it. But if I can inspire ONE person to pursue a career in marine stewardship like one person once did in me, than I have made a difference. I will be investing, in my own way, in the future of our oceans. I can help ensure a healthy and thriving ecosystem for future generations. In my own way, I AM making a difference.
This is my passion. The ocean. All of the seas. All of the inhabitants and chemical properties that it comprises. I love the biological, geological, paleological, chemical, dynamical fluid combination working as one entity to sustain all of life. If I am full-filling a purpose in my life, the ocean will always have a connection. Spiritually, emotionally, physically. No matter how direct or round-about.
Go dive. Go swim. Clean your beach. Think sustainably. Everything we do effects the ocean. WE can make a difference, one person, one action, one inspiration at a time.
"How wrong it is to call this planet Earth, when so clearly it is OCEAN".
Namaste.
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