Jesslyn's First Week!

Interning at the Aquarium is a truly, enjoyable, fulfilling and exciting experience. Walking to work in the mornings and afternoons fills me with joyous anticipation. Just this morning, the thought occurred to me that I will never again have a job that will be so purely fun and feel as though it isn’t a job. Showing children animals and teaching them about wildlife is the best part. Emotions of satisfaction and accomplishment fill me when children shriek, “Ew, a snake!” and they gradually change their expressions to “aw, he’s a nice snake”. I assure them that he won’t bite unless threatened, and that they’re actually really important to our ecosystems. Seeing the animals in general is also what makes this internship so fun-I love saying good morning to Liberty the bald eagle and telling the spider crab in the touch tank to stop always being so moody. I suppose talking to animals makes me sound somewhat insane, but I seriously think that they’re quite fond of me too. The Great Ocean Tank porcupine fish followed me around the other day when I was exhibit guiding and the diamondback terrapins are always happy to see me (and it’s not just because they want food). In conclusion, my first week was filled with amazing experience. I am so lucky to be here and I could not be grateful enough to the enduring patience of the staff, volunteers, generous donors who make this program possibly, and of course wonderful guidance from Kate and Drew. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the summer.

-Jesslyn