Rebecca had always had a keen interest in the ocean, inspired by her Biology teacher at Haberdashers’ Monmouth. During Biology A level, she and her fellow students learnt about aquatic life and the importance of sea plants on the environment. Thanks to a grant from the Thomas Arno fund, she was able to extend her learning through a visit to the oceans Fiji.
“Because of this grant I was able to receive my PADI diving qualification and therefore was able to dive with sharks and see them in their natural habitat first hand. This was such an incredible once in a lifetime experience and I cannot express my gratitude for it enough.
I was pushed out of my comfort zones by experiencing new challenges each day. I was able to build confidence and resilience through team activities and new life experiences. My volunteering also contributed to the local community, as every time we dived, we donated money to the local community so they would not fish in certain areas to protect the shark population. As a result of these donations, the local community was able to thrive.
I also attended many workshops in Fiji, including ones dedicated to coral and mangroves to learn the importance of them for the oceans, especially sharks. Following this, I alongside the other volunteers planted over 500 mangroves, contributing to healthy and sustainable mangrove forests around Pacific Harbour region. These mangroves provide habitats for sharks to lay their eggs and ensure the conservation of endangered species such as bull sharks.
In addition, I lucky enough to visit the Fiji shark lab, where I learnt about the on-going research into bull sharks’ skin composition and their movements during the various seasons. Finally, we did a coral survey dive and documented the colour which correlated with the coral’s health in a large international online coral data site.
I wish to study either Biology or International Relations at university, so being able to connect with people from across the world was extremely beneficial for me, especially learning about their cultures and world views. I was immersed in the different Fijian culture, allowing me to gain an understanding of their role within our global community and developing a deeper cultural awareness. For example, I attended a dance performance with traditional Fijian dancing and even fire dancing! In addition, I met the Fijian 7s team and was inspired by their teamwork and perseverance.”
