Personal Narrative Essay: Ocean Reef

The wet tiles that were beneath my feet felt cold, and moist. The locker room was filled with the sound of scalding water slapping the tile floor harshly. The room felt hot and humid like a summer day in Florida. I could feel my anxiety burning within me, in the same way a fire burns down a forest. It grows profusely worse as the second hand on the clock above my locker ticks away. I quickly changed into my swim trunks, and crept into the swimming area with fear and anticipation. I tiptoed my way down the stairs that led into the pool. I could feel the brisk water slowly creep up my leg as I forced myself deeper and deeper. I was on my way to my mother who was going to try and teach me how to do a back float. I remember tipping

When I was younger I used to play sports especially football. I remember playing in the championship game for Coral Reef Senior High against American Heritage Senior High. It was my last high school game and for us to remain undefeated throughout the season. I also knew I had to bring my “A” game because of college scouts were going to be at the game. Our game was to be played at Florida International University at 7pm. My team and I went to the FIU stadium two hours before the game started to stretch and loosen up. So as the time was winding down for us to play we step on the field, all I could see was a lot people in the stands cheering us on. I kind of had butterflies in my stomach but I had to put that feeling aside and help my team win.

The aroma of the salty ocean breeze dances around me. The ocean splashes onto the million small grains of sand while tickling the feet of the diverse people who travel among it. Music of the waves sing in perfect unison with sound of the natives playing their drums, their beautiful harmonies fill the resort while they wait for generous people with anything to spare. I look around and embrace every small detail, like the small sand crabs that scurry across my newly pedicured toes and the shattered shells that gouge into the bottoms of my feet. I find my way to the brightly colored hammocks filled with people reading the magazines filled with all the fake information about Justin Bieber and his new girlfriend, or the perfectly picked novel just

I am known to be extremely clumsy. With that, it’s expected that I often end up in awkward situations. In the past I have called numerous teachers “Mom,” fallen down while walking up stairs, almost fallen off a cliff; and it can be assured there were many more instances where my embarrassing clumsiness had led me into awkward, sometimes life threatening, situations. One moment that stands out in particular takes place in every marine animal welfare activists’ “favorite” place, Sea World.

At the end of the day Reef got into Franks truck and head off to the rehab center to say goodbye to Leeza. Leeza hadn’t been the first one Reef had to say goodbye to, Alex left the home to go be with his parents, Scar off to university with the scholar ship she received after graduating high school, Reef had been proud of Scar, she was smarter than the others and proved it,

Gloria Steinem once said, “Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.” Imagination and dreams can make anything possible, including me becoming a marine biologist. Ever since I was five years old, i have dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. My dad, stepmom, and me took a trip to Orlando, Florida and I was terrified of what was to come. I didn't know it had the time, but now I realize that this one experience has shaped me into who I am and what I love.

There I was sitting in the tender, which has just set off from the Veendam, hoping not to

One sunny day an eighteen year old girl was enjoying the view from the docks at Oxnard, CA when she slipped and fell into the ocean. Thankfully no one had noticed what happened and she slowly made her way to the beach underneath the docks. When Oceania finally made it to the shore she was so tired that she passed out from exhaustion. When she woke up an hour later Oceania started to get up only to discover that instead of legs she had a fishtail. As she was trying to get clear of the water, she was discovered by the owner of Seaworld. As soon as he spotted her, he quickly called his crew up and they caught and transported her to Seaworld. Once there they placed her in with the dolphins and told her what to do for a performance with the dolphins.

One time when I was working as a MA in coral reef medical, I call a patient to take him to a room and this patient was upset because he had being waiting in the waiting room for 40 minutes. First I apologize and said that I understand his point. Then, once he was inside the room I explain him that we had a patient that was having seizure and it took me more time that expected. Then I ask the patient if I can get him some water or coffee.

An epic and timeless battle plays out in annually in our beautiful province. From late summer until early winter salmon valiantly fight their way back from the ocean to their home rivers where they first hatched. This is the stuff of legends and folklore! It is difficult to articulate the impact a single fish has had on the people of BC, but suffice it to say the salmon run is unquestionably a marvel of nature.

Through life I have had no Idea what I was going to do as a career. At one point, I wanted to be a Doctor; at another point a Marine Biologist; and a teacher, a nurse and the list goes on. I have a love for learning and the more I learn the happier I have felt. Over the course of many years I have learned a great deal in various areas, still not sure of where I wanted to settle on as a career. Till now with my current employment with the local library.

Ever since I can remember I have stayed busy by participating in every activity I could get my hands on. Spending so much of my time working on getting that perfect pass, mastering a triple pirouette, and focusing on school  has taught me what it means to have a hard work ethic. Through being involved in so much and having many people’s support I have learned who I want to be. My grandmothers have impacted my life in unimaginable ways and encourage me to strive for what I want to be: a marine biologist.

It was dark outside. Clouds loomed over the skies as I walked into the enormous colorful building. Blazing rays of LED lights shone through the entrance’s translucent windows. Brightness and gleams engulfed my vision like a wildfire. My eyes blink, trying to focus where I was walking. As I paced myself through the crowded corridors of the large hallway trying to find my group of friends, I could see murals of sea animals everywhere and signs directing where each exhibit was. Animated and overjoyed, I pranced to the first exhibit where the baby sand sharks were. They were extraordinary, swimming around their tank but sadly not able to leave their confined space. Their tank only allowed them to swim continuously in circles. Although animals in captivity tend to live longer than animals in the wild, it is depressing to mull over how they were stripped of their freedom. There was nowhere to escape when housed in such small enclosures.

I stretched my arms out and looked up and down the beach. Although I lived in Waikiki for years, it'd been far too long since I took a vacation, let alone the beach, since I'm dealing with neverending piles of school assignments and activities. As I strolled along the coastline I can feel the soft smooth sand beneath my feet. I was taken in by the soothing atmosphere that encircled me. I closed my eyes, letting myself absorb the blistering rays of the sun on a scorching summer day. The beach was oddly quiet for this time of that year, only a handful of people sunbathing. I didn't mind, I was going to enjoy myself.

I waked up and I looked to my left to see my parents were watching the sunrise on