Since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to travel and explore. When someone would ask me where I wanted to travel, it was hard to answer! I obviously had my few top spots, but my simple answer was ‘everywhere’ with a laugh. I don’t remember the exact moment when I realized that I wanted to sail the world, but it was sometime during high school. I knew absolutely nothing about sailing, but I knew that I loved the ocean and traveling by boat. Over the years, this dream has transformed. During college, I wanted to drop out, buy a sailboat, and leave. I laugh at this now, I knew absolutely nothing about sailing and I could never imagine myself dropping out. The pandemic hit, and I that dream transformed into also buying a conversion van so I could travel domestically until I was able to internationally; I had this vision of having my sailboat moored up with my van in the closest parking lot; the perfect way to explore everywhere. Then this dream transformed again during a relationship; I could do it with someone instead of by myself. But now I am back to developing my original dream; solo-sailing the world.
However, my dream is bigger than simply sailing the world. I am a firm believer that everyone has a life purpose. God has a plan for each one of us, and I always come back to wondering how am I serving God if I am sailing the world for myself? After prayers, thoughts, and thinking about my passions, my dream developed into teaching kids in local communities about the ocean and introducing them to something I fell in love with at such a young age. Teaching kids is so fulfilling and inspiring, watching them understand and their world open up to something larger than themselves is so amazing.
The majority of island populations don’t know how to swim, let alone understand the ocean and its importance. Ocean conservation is such a large issue today; not because people don’t want to help, but they don’t know how to. We are told to do this, do that; never eat meat, never use plastic, etc. The key is to meet in the middle, to all be moderate in what we do, but this will never happen if people don’t understand. I believe that change starts with kids, they are learning about everything and experiencing so many new things. They don’t have set beliefs or opinions, their minds are open and curious; ready to explore.
As a marine biologist and someone who loves and spends time in the ocean, I feel I can teach kids the simple things about the ocean in their area; the local flora and fauna, the big fun stuff (sharks, rays, whales, dolphins), challenges the oceans face, and what simple things they can do to help. I can teach them to freedive/snorkel and experience everything underwater so they can develop a fuller understanding. I can teach them to sail and spearfish, ultimately showing them how they can interact with the ocean in every single way and hopefully gaining a wider understanding and respect.
To sum all of this up and put it simply, my dream is to sail the world, volunteer in local communities, inspire others while teaching them about the ocean and conservation, and invite others along for the journey!
If you are interested in supporting any aspect of this or joining for a leg of the trip or a specific location, please email for availability or how you can help! A few simple ways you can help support are to:
- Donate supplies for local kids. I plan on donating some items at each stop to local kids. Some of these items can include but are not limited to school supplies, books, frisbees, masks, snorkels, fins, etc and can be new or used.
- Sponsor a day on the ocean. Every single day on the ocean has a cost. My goal is to be able to show these kids the ocean; whether this is a day where we go out snorkeling the local reef, spearfishing, teaching them how to sail, or teaching them the ins and outs of the engine room.
- Sponsor a kid. Throughout this journey, we have already been in touch with many kids and have been able to provide them with fins, masks, snorkels, wetsuits, and spears. We would love to equip every single child we come across, allowing them to be comfortable in the water, and additionally, with content that allows them to learn more on their own.