As I prepare for my experience this summer in Utila, Honduras, I am looking forward to the abundance of opportunities I will have to learn, grow, and challenge myself in ways that I don’t experience in my everyday life.
One of the main things I would like to do this summer is to participate in marine research dives. Part of my internship at the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center is to learn coral reef surveying techniques and assist with data collection. I am hoping to gain extensive hands-on research diving experience as I am interested in pursuing marine conservation in the future. Since I hope to work with marine animals in the veterinary field, this firsthand experience of conducting research in the field will definitely help me to better understand conservation efforts from a scientific side. This first goal of mine will contribute personally and professionally as it fulfills my lifelong interest and help move my research project forward as I will be gaining data. Another thing I would like to try is monitoring the whale shark populations. This part of the internship can be different for each cohort of interns, so the opportunity to contribute to this research is something I never thought I would be able to do as a first-year college student. Not only obtaining the data, but learning how researchers collect and analyze it for marine mammals will definitely give me a valuable understanding to conservation practices involving wildlife. At the same time, simply observing the animals is meaningful to me personally because of my passion for the marine ecosystems. The third thing I would like to do is to become involved in the local community of Utila and experience what it’s like to live on a Caribbean island. I am very interested to see the intersection of conservation and ecotourism, along with how locals view the environmental issues that are affecting their lives daily and directly. I plan to do this by participating in community outreach, attending local events, and supporting the local businesses. this will help me to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and community. This is important to my research as my project directly focuses on the response of coastal communities to human degradation of marine ecosystems. This is going to reward me personally as well because I love learning about different cultures and perspectives that would help me become more globally aware.
Throughout my experience, the first skill I plan to work on is scientific research and data collection. This is a professional skill, however, it will benefit me in the future regardless of the career path I choose. Species identification, coral reef surveys, research dives, and whale shark monitoring will all give me chances to practice this skill. Ultimately, these activities will help me to develop skills of critical thinking and analysis that will contribute to future research projects in both my undergraduate and graduate studies. Learning how research is conducted in a hands-on, real world setting will give me a strong foundation for my career path. The second main skill I hope to improve is cross culture communication. This is personal and professional as the ability to communicate with different backgrounds can be of value to almost every aspect of life. Living and working in a different country is going to challenge me to adapt to new norms and ways of thinking that I am not used to. Through my interviews, activities, and outreach with locals and fellow researchers, I will have many opportunities to practice cultural awareness. I believe that these skills will help me to be more effective in my work whether I am working as a veterinarian or collaborating with communities around the world.
A song that reflects how I am currently feeling about my experience is “Your’e Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahan. This is because for a while I will be leaving a familiar place behind to pursue a new opportunity although it is difficult. As I travel to Honduras, I am very excited to gain new experiences and develop my skills, but at the same time, I know there will be challenges that come with adapting to a new environment. This song reminds me of the personal growth that comes with taking risks and embracing new opportunities even though I may feel intimidated.
Pictured is a whale shark, the species I will most closely be studying this summer.
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