I stopped counting rejections. I had over 50 job applications turned down. It does take a toll on you, but despite that, I’ve never regretted my decision to pursue Marine Biology.
When I was younger, pursuing marine biology was improbable. Growing up, I never watched wildlife documentaries and did not have much knowledge of marine life. In poly, I took a science-based course, disliked it, and swore I would never touch science again. Yet, a few years back, I took a leap of faith.
I worked in customer service assisting casino guests at Resorts World. The good income and the friends I made kept me going. However, I felt stagnant inside and knew I needed a change. The opening came when S.E.A. aquarium was hiring a lab technician. I jumped at it, and through the job, I was exposed to all sorts of aquatic animals and the field of marine biology. The interest grew on me, and a crazy thought (to my mum especially) entered my head.
What if I go overseas to study marine biology? I had the desire, but the fear was there. Plenty of ‘What If’s’. I had a stable job, and was already in my late 20’s. The future job prospects were also uncertain. But I had and still have a mentor from Bahamas that gave me the push. He’s a warm caring figure with a cheerful vibe and always wants the best for everyone.
He urged me to do it, and not think twice. He said “this is not the time for ‘What if’s’, this is the time to go all out and make all the mistakes you can. You can always come back and do this, but if you don’t try, you might live to regret it”
I’ve since achieved a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology and MSc in Marine Mammal Science. I’m currently a research assistant with Norwegian Orca Survey and making plans to undertake my PhD. I have no regrets.
) It was truly incredible. Out of this world. The first time I saw killer whales in the wild.
Maybe it’s the sheer size or its elegance in the water, but either way the feeling is indescribable. It’s very cliché, but I fell in love with them.
Marine life are largely threatened by human activities. These include entanglement in fishing gear, bycatch and lately, it’s not uncommon to find plastic waste in the stomach of whales that wash up on shore.
This motivated me to study marine mammals, and pursue research for marine conservation and environmental consciousness. The passion drives me forward. It’s comforting to know that your work contributes to an important cause.
Overseas, I got used to bringing my own recycling bag and packing everything into one bag. When I returned to Singapore after my studies, I did get slightly frustrated. I was given 3 plastic bags for 3 different items. When I said I just needed 1, the cashier exclaimed: “Are you sure?” Someone in the line added “Later got contamination”. I’m sure it was out of goodwill, but all my food stuff was sealed tightly.
Of course, it is understandable and I don’t wish to take the moral high ground. In fact, if I didn’t study overseas, I wouldn’t be as aware myself. In the countries I’ve been, bringing your own bags and charging for plastic is the standard (over here we riot when supermarkets start charging haha)
Regardless, I do believe more can be done to improve our environmental consciousness. We live in convenience and don’t really think about the consequences of our waste and way of life. It helps to realise that not everything is about profit and self-interest; thinking about our actions and taking conscious steps to reduce our carbon footprint, will also make us more considerate and compassionate as a society.
Did you know? More than 80% of the ocean isn’t explored. Isn’t that crazy? The ocean has an allure, it’s so vast and mysterious. Scientists estimate about 2 million species are living in the ocean, and only ~200,000 are known.
There’s so much more we can learn, so much more we can discover. That’s one major reason that drives my passion.
Interestingly, it’s like a metaphor for life too. I never knew what’s possible till I took the step to try. I was from an NA stream, didn’t fancy school, and my grades in poly were horrible. If you ask me years ago if I would ever imagine myself in my current position, the answer would be ‘Definitely Not!.
What’s the advice I’ll give to my teenage self? Get out and explore as much as you can. Acknowledge that fear is always present. It’s not entirely bad, it forces you to weigh the possibilities. Yet, an exaggerated fear is the number 1 reason that stops you from doing a lot of things.
Today, I still feel the fear of uncertainty in my profession. However, when I look back, it’s crazy to imagine that I would not have experienced all this if I had let fear hold me back. So take courage, figure it out, take the first step, and conquer the fear. And when you do, the feeling of liberation is as vast as the ocean.
