BY EMILY HARRISON / KALAMALAMA STAFF WRITER
Aloha all, my name is Emily Harrison. I am a third-year student at HPU, and I have a major in marine biology and a minor in editing and publishing. I have been the managing editor for a bit on the Fresh Perspectives journal, and I am currently doing some volunteer editing on the journal as well. I have two pieces being published in this semester’s edition of Wanderlust, and I am currently working on my own novel!
My main focus is marine biology, though, and I work at a state park back home and help conditions in both freshwater and terrestrial aspects!
I hope to be a research diver within my Maine biology career, focusing on sharks (bull sharks to be specific), and possibly rays/skates, while working for an aquarium or a university.
I am from a very small town in Indiana (liberty), born and raised there. When I was young my family would take trips to Florida for the summers and since I was ten years old, I wanted to be part of the ocean. I started looking into the career pathway as best as I understood, and when I was in eighth grade I job shadowed at my “local” aquarium. There I learned that they have part-time research divers that help them with their exhibits, and I fell in love with the idea.
When I was sixteen, I got my scuba certification, and it was incredible becoming part of the water myself. I chose HPU based on location and experience opportunities, and HPU has opened me to a lot of opportunities I wasn’t aware I’d ever have to possibility to have.
I’ve always had a passion for writing, and I want one day to possibly work part time editing/publishing. The editing and publishing minor is a minor I have never heard of, but it has actually given me a lot of experience I wasn’t aware I needed.
One day I do hope to publish books of my own, and if I could not only write, but aid in the editing and publishing of it, it would be a dream come true. I think it’s very important for students/ people to have some writing in their life. Writing is a way to express yourself, and it also unleashes potential and passion some of us aren’t even aware we have.
With a creative mind and the experience of the ocean, who knows what could be created!
I have been credited (for this semester) to help “rebirth” Kalamalama. I hope to write a number of different, and interesting, posts. I will be starting a couple of reviews, along with a weekly blog post, and hopefully it can be something that not only inspires some of you to write, but it also helps make your week a little better. Keep a heads up for your opportunity to write for Kalamalama, my voice isn’t the only one who deserves to be heard.
Hopefully after this semester some traditions can be started and carried on!
