I remember when I was young telling my Mom and Dad that I wanted to be a marine mammal trainer. I remember them being a bit concerned that maybe it wasn't the easiest career to break into and probably not a career that would make any money. But I assured them that I didn't care about the money. I wanted to be happy going to work every day. I wanted to work with marine mammals and do my part to educate people about the ocean and the animals that live within it. I eventually did become a marine mammal trainer for four years, but quickly found a greater passion working with rescued marine mammals and rehabilitating them to release. Working with marine mammals in some capacity has been a part of my life for more than 20 years. It's what I know. It's where I'm most comfortable.
I found myself physically and emotionally tired in 2015. Rescue and rehabilitation work is challenging and I had been consumed by the job for 8 years. I started to consider other career paths and came across computer programming. I poked around a bit, but never seriously started the learning process. Working with marine mammals was what I knew. It's where I'm most comfortable.
March 16, 2020 my work day was almost over. I was able to accomplish a lot during the day. My interns and volunteers were managing the Rescue Clinic and taking care of the seals being rehabilitated. Outside the world was quickly changing. I had been following the pandemic and had noticed many other zoos and aquariums were closing their doors. I knew it was only a matter of time before we did the same. But I'm a supervisor. I'm comfortable. Our program had grown exponentially over the past several years. Our team was phenomenal and the sky was the limit. I'm happy and comfortable.
The next day.....the world changed. My world changed. Furloughed, yet with a funny feeling that things have changed permanently. I'm terribly uncomfortable. Yet very happy to be home with my family...
I'm a strong believer that things happen for a reason. In 2015, I wasn't in a good place and I found myself on the edge of that 'new-career-cliff' and couldn't take the jump. There were a-million-and-one reasons not to: stable career, health insurance, 2-year-old daughter who loves the Aquarium, etc. etc. etc. Surprisingly, over the next 5 years my job happiness improved and I found myself surrounded by a team of dedicated, passionate individuals who pushed me to new heights as their supervisor. And now I've unexpectedly been pushed off the cliff. A new beginning has started as I search to find my new "comfortable" in web development.
My new career goal...create the largest cannonball splash that I can!
