Finding the Ocean in Washington DC
As a Knauss fellow, I took a leap of faith – stepping all the way from Orono, Maine to Washington, DC (11 hours driving, just over 600 miles), to find new opportunities and learn more about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This fellowship is the epitome of being thrown in the deep end of the pool and finding out if you can sink or swim. I work on the Policy team in NOAA’s Office of Research, and it has been a nonstop firehose of information. This placement, unlike many others, doesn’t grant many opportunities for travel or conferences, and can sometimes feel a bit repetitive in terms of the day to day tasks. However, it is one of the most incredible opportunities I’ve had the chance to seize with both hands. I am able to work closely with an incredible team who are each extremely supportive, kind, giving, and willing to walk me through almost any issue or topic we face. This team encouraged me to take some time to explore anything I was interested in, and work with them to find opportunities that get me out of the office, out of my comfort zone, and let me explore different topics I hadn’t considered before.
The day in day out work, sorting quahogs and other shellfish from the dredge, worked in five person team to measure subsample after sorting.
Measuring and sorting quahogs, using computer based measuring equipment
About three to four months into the fellowship, I felt a bit of a slump. I had gone from graduate work that kept me consistently on the coast to working in an office, and this coupled with the general stress of existence, led me to pursue any avenue I could take to go back to the ocean. In that vein, from August 11th to August 16th, I had the opportunity to sail with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center on the E.S.S. Pursuit. Specifically, I participated in the second leg of their quahog survey. As a volunteer, I dissected quahogs for 12 hours a day, often working in a hot metal box, or hiding from the sun to avoid a sunburn. I ended up tripping and skinning my knee, got blisters from my boots, and definitely got a few bug bites from some stowaways, but, I also was able to watch the waves and the stars, feel the ocean breeze, and meet some incredible people. We got to sit and breathe with right whales, humpbacks, and dolphins. We watched the sun slip below the horizon, and the moon and stars emerge, even a bit of color from the Milky Way. I lost a lot at various card games. After five days of absolute joy, feeling completely centered and certain, my time on the boat came to an end. With greasy hair and a scabbed knee, I stepped off the ship, mourning the person I was only moments ago. However, like the sun breaking through on a gray day, I felt an affirmation I hadn’t felt in years, that I was where I was meant to be.
Sunset from my favorite spot to read on the ship.
My time in this fellowship and on the boat has shown me who I am under many different circumstances, including those I’d never considered before. Out on the boat, I remembered why I do the work I do – simply because I love the ocean. Back in the office, I remembered how I do this work, with a team of wondrous people, and by doing it day in and day out.
Posted 14 November 2024