- Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.
For my STEP Project, I worked to get both an open water and advanced scuba diving certification. The activities included online courses and in-person confined water practice. Both courses have open water check-out dives. This allowed students to get the opportunity to dive in a real dive setting.
- What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.
I have always had an interest in aquatic ecosystems and the environment. Scuba diving has allowed me to explore this interest in a new light. Having the opportunity to explore aquatic ecosystems underwater has given me a new perspective. Having a scuba diving certification is not common, but I can explore the underwater world in new ways by gaining one. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, or PADI, course emphasizes the importance of protecting the underwater world. It taught me new ways to protect the environment, especially when diving. They also have certifications to further education on coral reef conservation.
Throughout my courses, I met many new people of varying backgrounds. The scuba diving community is very nice and helpful to each other. Each instructor and fellow divers are always there to lend a hand and help you improve. My classes had students that varied in age, reason for diving, and where they were in life. It was so interesting to meet these new people and learn from them.
- What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.
Through gaining my scuba certification, I built many new connections and learned new skills. These skills will help me explore my passions and interests on a new, deeper level. By not only obtaining my basic scuba certification but, my advanced certification, I am allowed to explore on a new level. The advanced certification allows me to push my boundaries in scuba diving. My scuba instructor explained it as “Your open water certification teaches you how to survive underwater, but your advanced certification allows you to become an actual diver.”
The skills I have learned throughout this process have made me excited to use them in the ocean. I was able to get a better understanding of aquatic life by diving in the quarry. However, diving in the ocean will allow me to experience another world of things. This process has prepared me, transformed my beliefs, and made my passion more concrete.
Throughout my two courses, I met many new people to share my interests with. My basic certification course is where I met most of my new relationships. Everyone was very eager to learn and worked together to further improve. From the instructors, employees, and peers, everyone was more than happy to lend a hand. This reinforced how important it is to be kind and helpful to others. The scuba diving community is a positive environment and something I am proud to be a part of.
- Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.
My future career goals are to work in marine biology. More specifically, I want to do research, which involves fieldwork. Fieldwork can require knowing how to scuba dive to collect samples. By gaining my certification, I am one step closer to those career goals. I am building the fundamental skills necessary for it. It will also open the door for more opportunities to gain fieldwork through internships. I must work my way up to doing research and having jobs that will act as building blocks will help me achieve my goals.
Not only have I always wanted to work in marine biology, but I have also always had a passion for the ocean and wanted to scuba dive. My uncle is a marine biologist, and he has had the most fascinating experiences. Growing up learning and watching what he has accomplished, made me want to achieve similar things. Being able to scuba dive, I am exploring a new passion and now a new hobby.