We wait with bated breath and eager eyes as the eggs begin to hatch. One by one their little heads break out, huge black eyes stare back at us, and flippers flail wildly as they awkwardly try to find their footing on the damp sand. About a hundred little sea turtles start dragging their bodies along the beach, crawling over each other in their singular focus to reach the ocean. Giggles and laughs are abundant as we watch the turtles reach the ocean. No matter how many times me and my team have seen this phenomenon, it really never gets old.  

It’s 2030, and I’m a marine biologist. My team and I are currently researching whale shark movement patterns and their breeding grounds. To this date, no one has ever seen a whale shark give birth, and we’re hoping to be the first to witness it. For the past month we’ve been tracking their movements along the beaches of South Africa, but we happened upon this sea turtle nest a week ago, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to watch them hatch and make sure the babies reached the sea. The creatures I’ve seen and researched never fail to fill me with wonder. 

I’ve been traveling the world having incredible adventures like this for the past five years. I’ve met and learned from so many new and amazing people along the way, and have grown incredibly close with the people on my team. I can honestly say they’re like family. I feel at home when I am at sea, but in the next couple of years, I plan to settle in one place for a while – only after I’ve seen a whale shark give birth of course. 

My life is how I’ve always dreamed it be, learning about the ocean and the creatures within it; but even more so connecting with others as I never before have. I’m confident in myself now and finally feel at peace with the path I’ve chosen and the people I’ve let into my life. It’s freeing to feel like I’m living the life I used to imagine in times of doubt when I pictured what it could be like one day.