hen getting to know someone new, this question will surely come up: “What do you do?” Most people expect a standard answer, to have you ask them in return,
and then you both move on with your lives. When you respond with the fact that you’re studying marine science, take underwater photographs for a magazine, rescue marine mammals, study sharks, or anything else ocean related, however, this is not the case. In my experience, the conversation will generally go in one of a few directions:
1) “Is there any money in that?”
2) “That sounds so fun! I always wanted to study
marine biology, but I went on to do [insert career here] instead.”
3) “Oh, wow. I didn’t even know that was a job.”
4) “How did you get involved with that? Did you, like, go to school or…?”
I’ve had a good amount of practice in answering to all of these scenarios to the point where I could respond in my sleep, but the fourth is probably the most fun to answer because you get to start a discussion about making a living off of your passion and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love the opportunity to talk about themselves? So how did I get where I am and how will I get where I’m going?
I have really great memories of summer trips to the beach as a child. The smell of sunscreen mixed with the salt air. Sifting for minutes at a time in pursuit of the perfect sea shell to take home and show off. The deafening, yet comforting sounds of crashing waves. That initial shock that makes your hair stand on end after entering the cool ocean on an otherwise sweaty
Making Waves:
How I Got My Start in Marine Science
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By Marcus Reamer
66 - SEVENSEAS