The Pivot
The sea’s waves have a way of drawing me back in, always with the same salty allure.
Since childhood, I’ve had a deep connection to the ocean, but inevitably in my 20s found myself spending more time in other realms due to making a living: traveling across the country to implement marketing events, working late nights from my bedroom as a content developer, hustling in retail stores, and spending time with furry friends as a dog sitter. Lately, though, I’ve been returning to the sea.
If someone had told me, just one year ago, perhaps, that in August of 2023, I’d be in the process of moving to Washington to pursue a Marine Biology program, I’m not sure I would have believed them. Indeed, it’s a radical change from the full-time content development job that I much enjoyed and a 2022 summer full of side gigs as a dog sitter. For a long time, I had ambitious dreams to one day go back to school, but it wasn’t something I anticipated would happen so soon. However, when one door in my life closed in the winter of 2022, it was time to begin a fresh chapter. I found a part-time job working on a boat and enrolled in a community college to take some science prerequisite courses while exploring school options. Eventually, I found a post-baccalaureate program in Washington state that I realized could function as a stepping-stone to a master’s degree.
My personal and educational interests have always been on an evenly balanced scale: writing and science. My skillset from my early years was writing, while my obsession was biology. The sciences and math did not come as naturally as storytelling, but I worked hard at them. As an undergrad at Stanford, I ultimately chose the storytelling route in a difficult decision between the humanities and biology. I graduated with a double major in English and Film Studies but always wondered deep down what it would have been like to actually pursue biology.
Flash forward to some life changes and a decision to switch things up.
That’s the story, thus far, of the pursuit of my academic passion. It’s to be continued. Here’s my site where I’ll share this educational and career endeavor and where you can learn about all things wildlife, sustainability, and outdoor adventures. Don’t hesitate to comment or reach out, and let’s talk about all things nature.
Cheers!
KW
