I got my start in fisheries during an elective course when I was pursuing my second Bachelor’s (pre-Veterinary track) way back in 2011. This one course and laboratory research I was involved in, changed the course of my life. I was no longer planning on pursuing veterinary medicine and instead, was determined to be a fisheries biologist. My professor, Uli, encouraged me to pursue a student contract position with USGS’s Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, MI, based on my interest in fisheries. I applied and quickly found my place as part of the deepwater ecosystems team. My supervisor, Bo, became a mentor and helped to guide me through my early career, pursuing higher degrees, and eventually my career.

Contract work can be stressful. When you start, you know that your contract has an end date. Mine was a two-year contract. I relished each moment of my contract work; it was a dream come true. I decided during this time that my ideal career (my end goal) was a fisheries biologist with USGS. This career path would be arduous and my next steps would be a Master’s degree (completed at CMU), followed by a PhD (completed at MSU). I had plenty of times of doubt, imposter syndrome (still a struggle), but also several times of accomplishment. One of my most difficult moments of doubt was when my initial USGS contract ended and I started my Master’s. I felt as if I would never work on research vessels again. You see, USGS fisheries positions seem so rare and difficult to secure and this was constantly on my mind. Tom and I went to a restaurant around this time in 2014 and, while I typically disregard the fortune cookie message, this one struck me. How could this message so fortuitously fall into my hands? And at this time, when I feared I would no longer have the opportunity to work on the Great Lakes research vessels.

My initial reaction was surprise, followed by, “Yeah, right.” But it found its way into my wallet, just in case. Whenever I doubted myself or my goal, I would sneak a quick peak at the simple piece of paper. And it has been in my wallet for 10 years.

The path was longer than I thought it would be and took Tom and I to more places than we ever dreamed, but I learned every step of the way. As I neared the end of the experimental portion of my PhD, I feared I would not be able to find a position in fisheries. Positions were scarce in Michigan at that time so I accepted a position as a Fish Biologist in Alaska.

After two years in Alaska and a switch to being a Fishery Analyst, I took a chance and applied for my dream position, a Fisheries Biologist at the USGS Lake Superior Biological Station. That little slip of paper called to me as I clicked “Submit” for my application, still thinking that my end goal would perpetually be out of reach. It’s that little bit of imposter syndrome mixed with the reality of knowing that competition is strong for such a position and there would be numerous candidates competing.

Then it happened. My dream came true. I was offered the position and am now a Fishery Biologist with USGS on Lake Superior.

Boats and water were and are definitely in my future. And yes, that simple, small slip of paper is still in my wallet. A memento of my fisheries path.