Ever since I was a young child, I have had a passion for all living things. I remember playing in my backyard, flipping rocks to find critters. I would bring any bug, lizard, or plant to my parents, and after hours spent on Google and reading many blogs, I would tell everyone what I had just learned. I grew up in Georgia, about an hour outside of Atlanta. When the Georgia Aquarium first opened, I remember stepping into a whole new world. I often think about the first time I saw whale sharks; I was in awe. Exploring each exhibit further deepened my love for the animals that live in and around the ocean. After that first visit, I delved deeper, finding new opportunities to learn more about marine life. I remember fondly the school trips I took to UGA facilities like Camp Jekyll and the Burton 4-H Center on Tybee.
My childhood was filled with playing outside and discovering the world around me. As I got older, it was time to start exploring what would come next in my young adult life. I took a somewhat nontraditional path, attending Georgia Highlands College to earn my associate’s degree in biology, then transferring to the University of West Georgia.
During my time there, I had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program at the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, where I lived on a Georgia barrier island for an entire spring semester, learning both in the classroom and in the field of marine ecosystems. By the end of that semester, I left a passion for the Georgia coast that I never knew I had. I then stayed on the island longer, working with the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve as a coastal communications intern. Later, I completed a full-circle moment in my career by working at the Georgia Aquarium, where I fell in love with educating others about the animals that live there. After earning my bachelor’s degree in biology, I found myself back on Sapelo Island as a sea turtle technician. Every morning, I monitored beaches for nesting activity and hatchlings, recording my findings in a database.
While I was in my senior year of college, I found an incredible opportunity I could not let slip by, so when that summer job ended, I drove just an hour north to Skidaway Island to become a Marine Education Fellow. Each day has been an adventure. I started my fellowship getting my feet wet and learning about all the classes and programs we teach. Once I started teaching people ranging from pre-K children to adults, I knew I wanted to make a career in marine education. It had everything I wanted, from being in the field, getting my hands dirty, and teaching folks about the Georgia coast and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Along with teaching people of all ages about coastal Georgia, I also get to work in the UGA Aquarium, caring for and feeding the animals we have! I love being able to spend my morning teaching and then spend the rest of the day feeding the fish and holding our reptiles. My favorite part of teaching here at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is seeing someone’s face light up with joy when they learn something new about the Georgia coast. Every day, I find new things to learn and share. I plan to continue teaching and inspiring future biologists as I pursue my career in marine education.
