The Reward for Resilience: A Not-So Humble Brag
Feeling the heartstreams for you & our planet.
Wahoo! I’m beyond delighted to say I’ve been accepted as a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner-in-Training (CERPIT) with the Society For Ecological Restoration (SER) - recognition that affirms my potential as an emerging professional in the global ecology field & reflects my commitment to upholding the highest standards of practice, ethics, & professional development.
SER is a powerhouse in advancing ecological restoration worldwide—setting best practices, industry standards, & fostering international collaboration to drive transformative environmental projects that benefit both nature & society. Their certification programs are a gold standard for professionals designing, implementing, & overseeing restoration work across the planet.
Getting to this point has been far from easy. Anything worth it typically isn't.
I walked away from a decades-long freelance career as a recognized creative & strategic communications expert to rebuild & prove myself in an industry known for low pay, funding struggles, ageism, degree bias, & political red tape.
I juggled rigorous coursework & specialized dive training to attain my (third) degree, graduating with high honors in 2.5 years– while solo parenting special-needs teens with frightening mental health challenges during COVID.
I moved house.
I took on a government job supporting coral restoration, strategically working past capacity during a global marine heatwave – while navigating unnecessary stressors in a workplace ecosystem where one competing species tested my resilience while others drifted with the current.
And I overcame a rare autoimmune disease– one that almost cost me my eyesight, lit my brain on fire for several months, & required medicine that damn near killed me.
Was it a test of fortitude? Absolutely. A little f*cking crazy? No doubt. But I believe passion & perseverance can break through any industry barrier— especially when backed by strategic thinking, leveraged expertise, & the right people & projects to rally beside.
Because sometimes the only difference between crazy & genius is timing & alignment.
In five years, I’ll likely be eligible to apply for senior-level CERP certification. Until then, I’m excited to learn from/ collaborate with inspiring professionals in the field & contribute to their projects while I deepen my interdisciplinary expertise of ecology, advocacy, & communications by making complex environmental challenges more accessible, engaging, & impactful.
HUGE thanks to everyone who supported me along the way! There are so many of you!
& please keep me in mind should you hear of any work opportunities that might seem like a good fit! I’m still hard on the hunt… as are many other marine biologists who sadly faced job loss thanks to the current political administration. From Biden’s BIL to today’s chopping block, it really hurts us all.
But that, my friends, is another story for another day.
I’m fortunate that I’m also a writer, teacher, & artist, which broaden my options. & I’ve got a few courses I’ve built that I’m ready to share once I get them set up on this platform & hope you will join me!
Blue seas & all love to you. Til soon.
xoC
#availableforhire #MarineEcology #restoration #ItsNeverTooLate #DoWhatYouLove #ProtectWhatYouLove #CareerTransition #CoralReefs #Seagrasses #Mangroves #MarineAlgae #CollegeoftheFloridaKeys #AppliedScience #ScienceCommunication #artforecology #ArtInAction
