I’m a Jersey girl and a high school senior from Jackson, NJ. My love of water began with ocean documentaries mesmerizing me for hours as a baby. As a toddler, I remember crying because plastic bottles and trash littered my family’s favorite local beach. I couldn’t comprehend how people could do that to such a beautiful place.
The Jersey shore is my life, but my grandma was a travel agent so I’ve experienced coastal environments in many places, from Hawaii to the Mediterranean. I snorkeled in Jamaica at three, then again on my first trip to Maui. I was in awe of the coral reefs and colorful darting fish. At six, I visited Mexico, water-confident and fearlessly diving on my own, swimming with enormous grouper, graceful stingrays, and coming face-to-face with barracuda — THAT opened up my entire world! At eight, drifting with Hawaiian Green sea turtles, I realized how much I cared.
One day, my Dad described how the reefs had changed since he was young. That deeply upset me. As I dove deeper, I learned how our choices impact our oceans and waterways, and this has fueled my drive to make a difference. I plan to pursue an environmental geoscience major and possibly a hydrology career. Being a Water Challenge Ambassador is a dream come true. The impact we’ll make together is far greater than it would be alone.
I’m my high school’s Science National Honor Society President, and also an Environmental Club Founding Member, NHS Executive Board Member, and Leadership Academy Charter Member. Outside school, I am part of the NJ Student Sustainability Coalition and, of course, GenSea! I’m excited to bring these worlds together to support my Ambassadorship and implement Water Challenge projects that make a measurable impact in our community and beyond!
