My name is Cherilyn
and I'm a marine biologist, aquarist, registered veterinary technician (RVT),
photographer and stay-at-home mother.
Here is a little background on how I realized that protecting the oceans is my life purpose:
I've always loved the water, and childhood trips to
the tidepools at Moss Beach (California), the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Steinhart
Aquarium in San Francisco, and a whale watching trip in the 6th grade all stand
out. I'd like to thank my elementary school teachers for instilling a love of
the natural world in me. Ms. Hughes taught me to love birds, Ms. Lee read
"Island of the Blue Dolphins" to the class, Ms. Kennedy instilled in me my
lifelong love of whales, and Ms. Iuso-Cox had her "Herstory Parade," in which I
was Rachel Carson. Little then did I know how much of an influence Rachel Carson would have on my career and life. I also would like to thank my female science teachers in junior (Ms. Dirks)
and senior high (Ms. Marantz) who are still my mentors.
I was in
elementary school when I first heard
Dr. Sylvia Earle
speak at a career day--and she has
been an inspiration to me ever since. At a lecture and book signing for
her book Sea Change: A Message of the Oceansmany years later I said she's been in every
ocean documentary I've seen and she laughed.
I got my bachelor's degree in the Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in Biology at the University of California at Berkeley and my Veterinary Technology degree from Foothill College in Los Altos, California. I have worked and volunteered at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and at (the former) Six Flags Marine World.
I am a certified SCUBA diver with over 30 dives under my belt. Getting certified for me was not easy, as I had to overcome my fear of being in the water. Thanks to Melon Dash and her Miracle Swimming Institute I got over that fear.
I am fortunate to have dove in the cold waters off Monterey Bay, California, off the second longest barrier reef near Belize, off of the Hawaiian reefs, and off the amazingly diverse coral reefs of Indonesia. I have many photos from those dives and others that are on Flickr
Although I have loved the ocean my whole life, only recently have I known for sure that it is my life purpose to be an advocate for the oceans. I just started a blog, "Listen to Us!"told from the point of view of different marine animals. Please check it often!I will put up links to my favorite ocean related websites, post interesting news I cull from different sources, and most importantly I hope to nurture a community of like minded persons worldwide. I hope you will share your ideas, pictures and news on the forums (that will be up shortly!).
Until then, please contact me with any feedback, thank you! I'm on Twitter now, see below...Cherilyn
Last updated October 7, 2009
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