EMBRACING THE STUDY OF MARINE BIOLOGY

I have been interested in marine biology since I was in kindergarten, when I started reading books about the mysterious giant squid, and have been fascinated with marine animals, especially invertebrates, ever since. This interest has manifested in several hobbies that I pursue, including  keeping saltwater fish tanks as well as SCUBA diving.  I also attended the National Student Leadership Conference on Marine Biology at the University of Miami, which confirmed my interest in the field. 

I started keeping saltwater aquariums in 2020, right before the pandemic started, and I have expanded my aquariums since then. I have kept many different types of saltwater fish, some of which are much more difficult to keep than others. I have 2 aquariums currently, one 75 gallons and the other 37 gallons. Both need intense maintenance, which I do myself. I have many different species of fish, including small wrasses, tangs, and gobies, as well as several species of coral and decorative sponges. I also have a myriad of invertebrates, including starfish, urchins, and serpent stars. I  find myself working on my fish tanks, whether it be cleaning glass, doing water changes, or dosing reef supplements, frequently. However, I truly love the work I put into these aquariums and cherish my miniature ecosystems.

I started SCUBA diving in my sophomore year of high school, earning my PADI open water certification. My first dive in the ocean took place in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and it was breathtaking. Being in an ecosystem so diverse and intensely colorful was incredible. What impressed me most was the diverse scale of everything: I saw eagle rays the size of my mattress, cleaner shrimp the size of my thumb and anemones the size of my fist. It was so very different from any environment I had been in before. Since then, I have gone diving several more times, experiencing the wonder of the natural world each time. Both SCUBA diving and saltwater tank maintenance will  continue to be my hobbies in college.  A college major of  Marine Biology or related fields, would be perfect for me, since this area has been a lifelong passion of mine.