What the Ocean Gave Me By Malea Stassi

Dolphin Story

Living a stone's throw away from the ocean, it was my playground and comforted me in times of stress. As I grew up, I started to become frustrated seeing trash and food waste around my school, knowing it can end up in storm drains that lead to the ocean. Since the ocean always supported me, I felt it was my turn to inspire others to protect it.

I decided to start by implementing composting and recycling bins across my campus to protect the ocean and marine life from potential pollutants. I also applied and was accepted to be a NOAA Ocean Guardian, thinking this distinction would give me credibility to better complete this project. However, reviewing logistics, I quickly realized that I couldn’t do this alone.

To build my team, I first approached my AP environmental science teacher and principal, and then I led the initiative to add bins with informational signs around campus. I also created an educational presentation for students and staff on sorting properly, inspiring them to be a part of the solution. I learned how to effectively communicate with different groups to engage with everyone I could. My goal was to create an informed, passionate team to continue the momentum, even after I graduated.

However, as I tried to install even more composting bins, I faced resistance from the principal and custodians, who expressed that it was becoming too much work for too little return. Recognizing the impact we could have; I was determined to make it work. I relied on my skills as a problem solver to take a new approach. I learned to write grants and reached out to contacts in the newspaper, local TV channels, and parents to gain interest and support. I felt inspired and hopeful as emails poured in with people wanting to help.

Although this project is still a work in progress, I gained communication, networking, and adaptability skills that I carried into my second year with NOAA, my jobs, and school group projects. I have grown into a more confident change maker who will continue to raise awareness and strive to protect our environment.

Another vital part of my passion and development in my work surrounding the ocean was watching the movie Dolphin Tale. The movie centered around kids like me rescuing an injured dolphin. Deeply inspired, I developed a dream to become a “dolphin saver” when I grew up. As years passed, I continued working toward my childhood dream, even traveling to Florida to meet the dolphin from my favorite film. Eventually, I got an internship at my local aquarium to get hands-on experience with animals and meet others who loved the ocean.

One morning, my boss came across a beached whale. Suspecting human interference, he called me to the scene. Hot rage rushed through my veins at the sight of this giant creature taking its last breath. I got the opportunity to assist with the necropsy to determine the cause of death. We learned that micro and microplastics were found throughout the whale’s body.

Seeing this whale suffer, I couldn’t stand not living up to my dreams of becoming a dolphin saver, and hopelessness washed over me. I began researching funding opportunities related to ocean life and found a grant through Girl Up United Nations. I applied and was awarded $250 to host a microplastic cleanup at my local beach. This opportunity stood out to me because it allowed me to help protect future ocean life from meeting the same fate as this whale.

I put hours into advertising, recruiting volunteers, and working with county officials to secure permits. On Earth Day, I set up a booth and gave out NOAA pollution children’s workbooks to inspire and educate participants and families. At the event, I worked with participants to collect pounds of plastics off the beach. Although I wasn’t able to save the whale that morning, I am grateful that I was able to help my local ecosystems through opportunities like Girl UP. I plan to continue pursuing grants like these because I believe that through education and action, I can become my own version of a “dolphin saver."

Another way that I was able to pursue my passions for marine biology in and outside of the classroom was scuba diving. When I turned 10, I took classes at a dive shop and got my first scuba certification. I quickly realized that it offered further learning opportunities, and I pursued more certifications. One involved traveling to the Great Barrier Reef, where I learned how damaged the corals truly were.

As an empath, I was extremely saddened by this, and because I can’t sit still being unproductive, I researched ways to get involved. I read books and listened to webinars about coral, eventually finding Roatan Marine Park (RMP) in Honduras. Impressed by their coral restoration program, I emailed them to figure out how to help. At 16, I traveled there to take classes on coral biology and volunteered with RMP. I worked in the coral nurseries, cleaning and outplanting colonies. I simultaneously got my advanced diving certification, allowing me to study reefs at greater depths.

Honduras taught me more marine biology than any classroom before and connected me with mentors. Reaching back out, I learned about a spawning event and jumped at the opportunity. I helped collect coral spawn to increase genetic diversity for a more resilient reef. I also worked on getting my rescue diver certification on this trip, a critical step toward scientific diving. Although it was challenging, my determination to protect the ocean pushed me through and helped prove to myself I could do unimaginably hard things.

I plan to return to Honduras for a marine biology internship and to earn my divemaster/instructor certification in December because I want to teach people to dive and share my knowledge, inspiring them to learn and care about ocean life.