Today's guest blogger is Ann Scoggin, Admissions Advisor/Recruiter. We hope her post makes you stop and think, "Do I really know what all is required to go into my "dream" occupation?"
Traveling is a major part of my job. I travel to many cities and many schools and speak to many students. One of the first questions I ask is if they have any plans after they graduate. Basically, what do you want to be when you grow up? I encourage each and every student I meet to chase their dreams; yet, I also think it is important to fully understand those dreams and the amount of work required to accomplish those dreams. In this blog, I would like to highlight some of the answers and explore some of the professions in depth.
One occupation that I hear, rather consistently, is Marine Biology. It sounds interesting but what is it? Usually, when I ask the student what they plan to do in that field, I get a shrug and some mumbling about dolphins. So, I looked it up. Loosely, it is defined as the field of knowledge relating to marine organisms. Digging a little deeper, I found this definition: A marine biologist is someone who works in some way studying, observing, protecting, or managing marine organisms, be they plant or animal.
It turns out marine biologist can hold a variety of jobs and very few of them have anything to do with dolphins (they are actually marine mammalogists). Marine biologists can be a:
-Teacher in a university or high school
-Researcher
-Laboratory Technician
-Resource manager for public agencies (the EPA for example)
-Technician or field worker in consulting company
-Biologist working for environmental advocacy organization
-Biologist working in aquarium or zoo
For instance, The National Aquarium in Baltimore is currently looking for an Aquarist. The individual will be required to provide assigned specimens with day-to-day care. They must maintain exhibits and equipment. They are expected to participate in the acquisition, disposition, and acclimation of specimens. They will participate in the design and construction of exhibits and reserve tanks. Plus, they will be responsible for directing approximately two hundred volunteer divers who help maintain and feed animals. That sounds like a really interesting job. Let’s take a look at the requirements.
The individual selected for this job must have a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Oceanology, or a related field. The person must be SCUBA certified and have at least one year of experience. They must have knowledge of aquatic biology, basic chemistry, and the ability to apply them. In addition, they must be proficient in aquatic diseases, husbandry techniques, life-support technology, and basic aquarium maintenance.
In my research, I found an article by an instructor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University. He stated that any individuals interested in this field need to take classes, starting in high school, that deal with biology, chemistry, physics, math, engineering, hydrodynamics, climate studies, computer skills, and writing. He also stated that the field is very competitive and that most employed marine biologist have master degrees and Ph.D’s.
I understand why people are so fascinated with Marine Biology. If that interests you and you are regimented enough to tackle the curriculum, I applaud you. On the other hand, if you would just like to work at an aquarium and get to see dolphins and other marine organisms on a daily basis, perhaps, Industrial Maintenance would be a nice fit for you. TSTC in Marshall offers this degree in both the form of a one year Certificate of Completion and a two year Associate of Applied Science Degree. You would know how to work on all the pumps, compressors, and valves that make up the habitats that the aquatic creatures call home. Granted, Shamu might not be jumping out of the water to grab his lunch out of your hand, but, you could be there, daily, for the show!
If you have no idea what career you should go into, contact TSTC for a free career assessment. You can take an interest inventory, skills assessment and values assessment and then we’ll sit down with you to evaluate the results. There’s a right fit for everybody and we want to help find the right fit for you!
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