by Being on this cruise as a student only one month out of her college freshmen year, has been an eye-opening experience in many ways. I have met so many people and heard so many different points of that have enlighten me to a different side of this trip. The boat is full of people, all wanting something different when they get off. I, however, came in knowing so little of what would be happening aboard this cruise and consequently what I wanted out of it. I knew I would be getting some research experiences, but I didn’t know what that actually meant. I didn’t know that I would be working with instruments I have never seen or heard of before or learning how to read the many software needed to keep a research vessel going. I didn’t know that, today while I am half way through the transit, I would be leaving with more knowledge and understanding of what ocean science is and how much there is to learn and study.
There are so many connections to what is being done on this transit. It isn’t only Ocean Science. Ocean Science brings aspects of Math, Chemistry, Geoscience, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Being here has made it a bit confusing as to deciding what I want to do and has led me to question how it is possible to dip my feet in all these fields to find the best option for myself.
I didn’t know what future options I had. I know I could my masters and/or a PhD but I didn’t know what that entitles. I didn’t know the process of getting to that point and the process of making that decision. On board, I can see what getting a PhD in these fields is really like, it’s not what I thought it was. I never imaged that getting a PhD would involve what the scientists on board are doing. They are having the time of their lives doing research on the boat and are excited about school. They are studying what excites them and are making posters, papers and talks and are proud of their results and happy to share the information they have found with others and inform those who are just as excited as they are. This experience has given me a new perspective on the idea of graduate school.
-Sultana Mohammed
