Week 10:
Compassion, Connection, and Understanding

August 13, 2016

This week I was placed again with 2nd-3rd graders in Animal Addresses. Despite disliking this camp the first time I did it, it ended up being one of my favorite weeks! This was due almost entirely to the way my primary counselor, Leigh Ann, worked with both the interns and the campers

She was so positive, fun, full of energy, and worked just as hard to make my week enjoyable as she did the campers’. At the end of every day she would ask us interns if there was anything else she could do to make our experience easier, more memorable, or more positive. After working with staff members who I found inconsiderate and disrespectful, I felt so welcomed and valued by Leigh Ann. I know that, in my future, whenever I work with anyone who is less experienced than I am, I want to give them the same amount of respect I would give someone much older than me. Leigh Ann has this childlike enthusiasm and spirit that was so fun to be around, and it made our kids so excited. Even though we were dealing with 6-8 year olds, Leigh Ann still gave them an enormous amount of respect and always showed them kindness.

This week, I also got the most incredible experience of teaching directly in front of Tilikum, one of the largest killer whales in captivity. Weighing nearly 12,000 lbs, he is absolutely enormous. There is nothing like seeing him in person. Every time I see him, I’m still in awe. Watching the wonder on kids’ faces as they saw Tilikum in the window is something I’ll never forget.

Teaching about the adaptations of killer whales with an in the flesh version demonstrating all of their physical characteristics right in front of me is something most educators can only dream of. The power that these incredible creatures possess is something that can only be understood when seeing them in person. The ancient knowledge and deep goodness of the sea is something I don’t think I understood until I looked them in the eye. There’s something about connecting with a creature like that…it just makes you feel like you belong. Like you all belong. Together as one family, one planet…one ocean.

This is something I believe SeaWorld hits home more than any other organization out there. Some people believe that SeaWorld’s shows are simply for ‘entertainment,’ but that could not be further from the truth. One Ocean was created to inspire a love of the sea, to remind us that no matter what, we are all one family. Light Up the Night shows the incredible feat of different species connecting to create something beautiful, something unforgettable. It shows what happens when one world meets another.

On Sunday night, many of the interns went to see the last Light Up the Night show of the season. It was incredibly emotional, because many of us don’t know that the show is going to make a reappearance next summer. At the show, I found myself watching not only the whales, but the trainers. They all inspire me every day with their endless dedication to the whales and SeaWorld’s education and conservation mission.

With only one week left, my internship is coming to a close. I’m so thankful for Cornell Fellows for giving me the opportunity to undertake this amazing journey through which I have learned so much about myself and the path I wish to take. Thank you to everyone who has participated in making my summer one of the most amazing ones yet. Here’s to lighting up our last week!