Nina's Jumbled Up Life - Figuring Out The Puzzle

A little more on who I am and what I'm about

I'm back! As written in my profile, I am currently finishing my MS in marine biology. I love everything dealing with the ocean, but I would certainly be a liar if I didn't admit to being relieved about finishing school. It has been a long, and difficult at times, road.

I have always been near the ocean. I grew up in small New England town that is comprised really of only the beach and farms. Looking back, I was very lucky because I lived in a safe area where I could run outside all day and my parents didn't need to worry about cars or strangers.

Ever since I was a child I had two loves (other than my family, of course): nature and books. I could spend hours outside climbing trees, walking through the woods in our backyard, looking up insects in the encyclopedia, and reading books by the bundle. I easily went through four 300-page books in a week by middle school. And I had a very vivid imagination, and would make up stories in my head that I always said I would turn into books one day.

Now I'd say that I'm pretty smart but I've never been the best student. When it came time to go to college I decided to study biology, even though english came easier to me. A couple times I thought about changing my major, but I stuck with science because it was interesting, even though it was harder to learn. I also had a couple part time jobs during college, and one of them was in a biogeochemical laboratory testing estuarine water quality. It was this job that really solidified my interest in making a difference in the world of marine science.

I was accepted to a marine biology program in Florida, and this is where I've been for some years now. Once I moved here, I began to travel a bit more and have had the opportunity to see some amazing places. The most influential trip since beginning graduate school was Australia. I spent a month there studying the Great Barrier Reef, and got to see the rainforest and the savannah. My trip to Australia helped me to realize two things: that I wanted to increase the public awareness about what is happening to our oceans and that I wanted to travel more and see the world.

Unfortunately, I wasn't really sure how to go about doing that. I finished classes and began working on my final project, which I will call a thesis for simplicities sake. I had a full-time job doing nothing related to my field, but it paid the bills. I tried applying for jobs in marine science, but couldn't find anything. Anyway, to fast forward to the present, once classes were over I had a hard time figuring out what I was doing and where I wanted to go. I wanted to make a difference, but for a while I wasn't sure how, and I've never known if a PhD and teaching college is for me. I also know that I don't want to stay in Florida but I wasn't sure where to move to.

Even though most of my extended family still live in New England, my parents both moved to Portugal. My sister was living on the west coast for a while and then last year came to live near me here in Florida. I love being near my sister, and I must admit that warm weather and sunny skies all year long are extremely nice, but Florida still doesn't feel like home. And my experiences trying to find a job haven't been positive either.

Now I know that many people will probably think that I, and others in my shoes, should just apply for jobs all over the country and move where one pops up. And for a while I thought that way too. But I began to think about my experiences leading up to where I am now, and everything I've done and who I am. I love working outside, but do I really want a job where I'd spend hours cooped up in a lab each week? And can I really just move to a place I may not care for, just for the money? And what about my dreams of making a difference? How much of a difference was I really going to make by just taking 'any job that pops up'? Would my heart really be into it?

One idea I've always had was incorporating my interest in writing with my background in marine biology and interest in conservation efforts. But I've never known how to do that or if that idea was even something I could do. Is there any money in it and how would I get started?

Well, a couple weeks ago I purchased a book called 'The Success Principles: How to get from where you are to where you want to be'. It is written by Jack Canfield, who also happens to be the co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul'. I honestly recommend this book for anyone who wants to do more in their lives. It is uplifting, inspirational, and has lots of great points. It got me thinking about my dreams and how to go about making them come true. I started to realize that all the answers may have been sitting in front of my very eyes, and I just was too blind, or too scared, to see them.

I've decided to take steps towards becoming a writer, and I am sure that I will figure out a way to write about conservation efforts happening worldwide along our coastal communities. I also want to integrate my love for traveling in my plans and see more of this world that we live in. I want to educate people about the marine and freshwater ecosystems, not in the classroom, but in more relaxed and fun settings. It certainly won't be easy, and I am certainly scared, but I deserve it to myself to give it a good solid try.

I hope that everyone who is finishing school and looking ahead really allows themselves to do something they love. You may need to do some soul searching to figure it out, or maybe you already know what you want to do but don't know how to make it happen. Reading an inspirational or goal-oriented book may help you, like it helped me. Once school is 100% over I plan on packing up and spending some time with my parents overseas. I am also going to try getting dual citizenship, which could help me in my travel plans. What is it that you want to do? Would it help to live with family for a little while? While the thought at first may not seem ideal, especially if you've been on your own for a while, it may be good to have that support and help. And it is never too late, nor are we ever too old, to ask for help.

I hope that whatever it is you choose to do, that you really give yourself every opportunity you can to be successful and do what you love!