Jenna Westfall (UR)- Shark Bait?

Ever since I was about 6 years old I've always loved surfing. My dad taught me when I was young and I grew up just enjoying being in the water and getting the thrill of dropping in on a wave. As a little kid you're always afraid of something. Well when I was 8 years old, I was out in the water one day and I saw a shark swim right underneath me. Let me tell you, that scared the living crap out of me but my dad told me they aren't going to hurt me unless I hurt them and I eventually began to like them and not be afraid. I'm and animal and ocean lover. I'm 18 years old and I have been stung by three jellyfish, one manowar, and pinched by a gazillion crabs but even that doesn't scare me. I love the ocean just as much.

One of my many jellyfish stings.

A stingray that washed up ashore.

I chose this field because the ocean means everything to me and I want to do everything I can to save it and all of the marine life it holds. I care about the health of marine organisms, the quality of their habitat and what might be affecting them. I think the thought of taking a sick or injured marine organism and making it healthy and stable again really helps motivate me. The ocean is beautiful and we should do everything we can to keep it that way. I love doing beach cleanups. Its sad seeing just how much garbage washes up on the shore, it just makes me wonder what else is out there.

My parents and I during a beach clean-up in New Smyrna Beach, FL.