by 
As I stepped out onto the main deck in the early morning, a cold, strong wind pushed me more intensely than the boat’s rocking. I take the time to regain my bearings. At that time, I gaze above the sky and notice a dark world blanketed with stars. The boat’s rocking shifts the stars above me, giving me the sensation of moving through the heavens. The noise of the ocean around me brings me back to this world. I feel a great comfort being the only one awake aboard a vessel that travels through this oceanic desert. In this cold, sun-deprived world, I begin my mornings every day aboard the Langseth on my way to the exercise room on the boat’s backside. I keep up with the schedule that I usually retain back on land, even in this environment. My entire experience aboard this ship has been unique. Being up so early to watch the sunbathing on the horizon from end to end has been one of the most beautiful experiences I have enjoyed. At breakfast, I am hypnotized by all the food I can eat. And soon after, I fall into a food-induced coma until it is time for our morning meetings.
It is astonishing how much I learn from every meeting. Each day, I am reminded of how much I still do not know yet. To be surrounded by individuals from interdisciplinary subjects, interests, and views about environmental sciences enriches my soul. Raquel Bryan, our lead mentor and a person I have grown to admire, carries us under her wings. She baths us with information about her work as a paleoceanographer. Sydney Shaner, another outstanding scientist who is an expert in Geobiology, spoke today after being a little seasick the past couple of days. Her work captivated me because I am on a similar path that uses microbial communities to understand how life exists in different environmental gradients.
Sydney mentioned that she never took some courses on the subjects she now studies. She enforces the notion that no matter where you end up in life, you do not have to follow a narrow path. It is okay to diverge from the straight and narrow road to find the interests that fascinate us. Then there’s Rafael Uribe, a caring and inspiring role model. I feel entirely comfortable around him, but I have also come to understand how amazing he is as a mentor. He is passionate about making scientific data available to individuals in science and the general public. Rafael expertly communicates concepts that would otherwise fly over my head, and through his patience, we grow at our own pace. I hope to mature and emulate the caliber he has shown to every one of us. In such a short time, I have learned about the various layers that create connectivity between the modern natural world and the role climate empires of the past can teach us about future trends. Being aboard STEMSEAS has broadened my intellectual horizons by giving me new skill sets and friends that I cherish so much. We partake in activities that push us to think outside our designated fields. The community that we have built nurtures one other. We grow as a unit and as individual future STEM leaders.
Lunch no longer feels like a time to eat but a time for my newfound family to eat with each other. We laugh, let our guards down, and strengthen our newly created bonds. Later in the day, we continue learning through group activities. Private tours of the engine room and the main bridge have shown us the world that underlies an environment where scientists and crew members come together to live out at sea. In the evenings, we gather to watch the sunset. I feel grateful for the opportunity to be on board the Langseth, watching the sun kiss the ocean and seeing the silhouette as the sun sets behind my friends. To become a leader, I must take on opportunities while expanding my circle of quality people. With this in mind, I will miss watching movies in the common area and laughing about our weird quirks. Sasha attempting to dance, Cyrus, sleeping in random places on the ship, and Ralph’s beautiful but contagious laughter. Everyone aboard the Langseth has left an infallible mark in my mind. As the research vessel comes closer to San Diego, ending our voyage, so too does the chapter in my life called STEMseas. However, the closing of one chapter inevitably comes with the beginning of a new chapter. A chapter filled with the fullness of life that I have gained. A chapter enriched by my experience aboard the Langseth.
– Ignacio Rueda
