Dawn Brancheau: Never Forgotten

Two years ago on this date I was preparing for my phone interview with the Navy's Marine Mammal Program, I was so excited and nervous! While I was waiting for my phone to ring, I received a Facebook message from my friend, Maria, who is as obsessed with dolphins and SeaWorld as I am haha.

Unfortunately, she told me to turn on the news because there had been an accident at Shamu Stadium...they hadn't released any names, and it had only been a few months since I completed my internship there. A few minutes later I received my phone call and interview, which later got me the internship with the Navy.

Working at Shamu Stadium, doing the internship, seeing the trainers and Dawn performing with the whales was an experience I will never forget. I remember the times that Dawn sat down with me while I was doing observations and asked me about myself, what I wanted to do, what I thought of the shows, and telling me to never give up. The most prominent memory I have is when I told her that my ex-boyfriend told me that I would never be able to be a trainer; and she told me that he sounds like a complete ignoramus and didn't know what he was talking about.
She said, "You moved out to Florida, didn't you? You're doing this internship, aren't you? You've ALREADY proved him wrong and I can definitely see you going places."

And she was right too; I went on to do the Navy Internship, and now I'm getting my poster ready for a conference, will be at the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence, and will be graduating in May! Hopefully doing an internship at Disney or Seaworld shortly after graduation...so fingers still crossed for those!

But Dawn was an extremely influential person in my life and now I want to train in her memory for both the DBF Dream Big 5K on April 21st and my first triathlon sprint by the end of the year.

I gave blood for the first time today, because I wanted to do something good for someone who could use my help. :) I gave blood in honor of Dawn today and how she stood for helping and inspiring others, I finally felt the strength to do something that has scared me for so long!!! And I felt great afterwards :)

So I have new challenges ahead: midterms, the CO3, the SURE, Conservation Celebration, lifeguard re-certification, finals, and facing the unknown!

It has taught me to really value the here and now though; embrace the unknown and be prepared for anything!
:)

So my challenges for this upcoming week: ACE my Molec Cell Bio and Animal Phys midterms and wake up before 7:30a.

Here we go!