Hey blog readers! My name is Steph Long and I am extremely excited to be writing this entry.
I am a rising junior double majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Brown University, in Providence, RI.
If I had to describe the core of who I am in a byline, I would say that I am deeply fascinated by the unknown – whether that be the depths of the ocean, the vast horizons of space, the view from the next mountain ridge on a hike, or the number of peanut butter cups in my favorite pint of Ben & Jerrys ice cream. I would also say that I am most driven not only by what I do not know, but more specifically by what no human knows. So hopefully it comes as no surprise that I am really really interested in the utilization of robotics and engineering to explore inhospitable environments, such as the deep sea.
In my free time, I like to take my aptitude for engineering things and apply it to the highest stake activity possible–crafting. I recently have gotten really into sewing my own jeans, carving linocut stamps, and any other type of creative outlet that satisfies my need to build (on a lower frequency than robotics). On my drive out to Woods Hole I stopped at an art thrift store, so with any luck hopefully I will soon also be able to say I am into jewelry making! I also love the outdoors and this past year have gotten really into backpacking, so I look forward to filling my weekends with riding my bike around the Cape and camping on any shore that will have me.
snagged this picture of the beach near my housing after I moved in today!
Tomorrow I begin my internship in the National Deep Submergence Facility at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, specifically working on the Sentry AUV– an autonomous robot capable of diving 6,000 meters under the ocean’s surface. So I invite you to come along with me, and submerge yourself into the world that is deep sea robotics. I’m super excited to learn as much as I can, and to share my experience with all of you!
It is hard to believe, but my final day aboard the Thomas G. Thompson makes for a total of 50 days. I am so very grateful, and have been blessed so abundantly to be a part of the awesome crew even for a while. Before we do some reminiscing, lets see how the last week has been.
Oh yeah, monsoon! Thailand can receive around 15 feet of precipitation in a year, which makes for some pretty rainy days at sea. The most important thing I brought with me on this cruise was my foul weather gear, and my great sense of style as you can see. No matter what the latest fashion tips may say, high-vis is always in fashion. The neon colors you may be used to seeing on constructions sites or warning labels have an important purpose- you can’t miss them! Highly visible colors such as neon orange, yellow, green or pink ensures that you are seen. In worst case scenarios, such as falling overboard, you are clearly distinct from the endless waters so you can be rescued quickly. So, you can always catch me on deck, in my glowstick cosplay- also known as my foulies. My rain jacket and pants kept me dry and toasty on all of the misty mornings and downpour afternoons.
AB Brian steadies the CTD rosette with a tagline.Science members Devmi and Selena Pushing through the rain.The VMP is a hand deployed device.
The science team and crew worked tirelessly through the rain. To study monsoons is to endure the storms! Our final days of science consisted of VMP, or the vertical microstructure profiler, CTD, weather balloons, and scanfish operations. The winds and increasingly high seas made for a tumbling time on deck, and made operations run longer than normal. Taking the extra time to practice safe working tactics prevents injuries and accidents. It is better to lose an hour to work through things slower, than to lose days for an injury on deck!
On one sunny afternoon, we were greeted by some playful dolphins bow riding! The glare on the water makes them a bit difficult to see, but there were around 10 of them playing in the wake of the ship. We determined them to be Tursiops aduncus, or Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphins. Though this cruise was focused on meteorology, it was exciting to be visited by a bit of biology during our trip. Biology is my first love, and has been my main focus. Though I am enjoying and learning a lot about the other aspects of marine science, it is lovely to have the comfort of the incredible creatures of the ocean grace us on our journeys! (Advancement unlocked: Echolocation)
Science has officially concluded for this cruise, and we began our transit back into port. The next couple of days involved removing all of the scientific equipment and devices that had been installed around the ship. This is no small task! In the above picture, science requested my help to remove some wires from the MCT. A lot of them, as a matter of fact! Though it looks like a tangled mess of spaghetti, it is a sense of controlled chaos that eventually comes together. We snipped zip ties, unplugged the devices and sorted out the cables with time. Cables have been bundled and stored in their appropriate boxes for shipping or storing, and the MCT sealed up to prevent any water from dripping in.
One of the larger deconstructions was a LIDAR on the forward 02 deck. It had been set into a gyroscopic mount for the duration of the cruise, which meant a more difficult time dropping it back onto deck. The ABs, captain, and the science crew all converged to develop a plan. Using many lines, hands, and some precautionary foam bricks, we were able to lower it onto deck in about 2 hours time. The master rigging skills of AB Brian (pictured above, climbing the frame) were invaluable to the operation. I find careful procedures such as these to be oddly beautiful, almost in a mathematic sense. A well thought out plan and attentive hands make for easy work!
For our final night at sea, God painted the sky with a lovely sunset to send us homewards! Our cruise, though there were many bumps and bruises, has been a success. We have just set our anchor back in the port of Phuket, Thailand, and everyone is busy at work preparing for their journeys home. Laptops packed and memories made, shipping labels slapped on every crate and palette. The data has been collected, and the scientists are eager to return to their labs for processing. The ships crew is cleaning, storing, and readying the vessel for the next science party to come aboard. Science never sleeps, and the R/V Thomas G. Thompson is bound to go to sea again shortly.
A sincere thank you to the crew, captain, and science parties for allowing me to join them on this cruise. I hope that I have been a helpful and optimistic force for their work, and that I can cross paths with them once again in the future. As I make my own way home, I will set out for another adventure in a few short weeks. Thank you so much for reading along, and following my journey across the world. To the other UNOLS interns this season, fair winds and following seas to you! Shout out to Maria and the entire UNOLS team for making my dreams reality!
I want to extend a special thanks to my brilliant educators that inspire me to this day;
Jason Rogers, for sharing his dazzling love of invertebrates and indomitable spirit. (The variety of marine worms truly is inspiring). Jacqui Degan, for never once losing enthusiasm and for pushing us all for greatness. Shawna Rowe, for great kindness and diligence unfailing. Joel Clem, for unwavering faith in our abilities and a patient heart. Nathan Whited, for generosity and constant cheerfulness through tough times. Brian Bradley, for taking the time to teach in every moment, and encouraging our curiosity always. Brian Jeno, for holding us to high standards and working tirelessly. (And for not sinking the R/V MarTech with us aboard when Blue and I ran over the Sidescan Sonar. Sorry again.)Crew and captain of the R/V Cape Hatteras, for putting up with our student shenanigans, and welcoming all of us for incredible cruises. Much love to my Marine Tech Club family and classmates.
I have completed my second week of this unique experience. I had no time for pictures during this hands-on week against the clock. I had the chance to be a part of a small team that needed coordination to overcome major obstacles when the time mattered.
The planned sea trial was canceled due to the CTD winch’s level winder and the CTD with a Rosette attachment not working. At the time of the issue, we had a cruise in a week and needed to become operational soon. The crew utilized a three-team system to tackle both problems.
Part of having a small crew (around 10, including myself) means that we have to adapt our strategy to complete work on an older 146-foot vessel. Often, if it is a singular problem and if there are no other tasks present, all of the crew will get together. The job title is disregarded in these cases. This time, there were two major problems, with the CTD and the Winch level winder. The crew split off into three teams. The first team, made up primarily of engineers, focused on fixing the CTD level winder. The second team I was a part of was made up of four Marine Techs (counting myself) who focused on getting the CTD and Rosette operational. The last team tackled the remaining tasks around the vessel and assisted with the engineers when needed.
Troubleshooting the CTD
During the start of last week, the Scotch cast around the CTD wire termination I completed had turned out good. When we plugged everything in and went to turn on the CTD system, we blew a fuse in the deck box. It was a demoralizing sight, especially knowing I was the one who completed the termination. Luckily, later I would find out that the CTD termination I made was working normally.
I will keep this brief, due to the amount of trial and error we went through. We utilized a multimeter to check for breaks and shorts in the cable and junction box. We also redid multiple terminations, which included the slip ring termination leading to the drum. Then we would test the connection using a multimeter.
In the end, the problem ended up being that the color coding at the junction box was somehow flipped. The black wire, which was supposed to represent common, was the signal. The white wire in the junction box, which was supposed to represent the signal, ended up being common. The way we identified this was when testing at the junction box, the multimeter was reading a negative 270 volts. Thus, the connections were flipped.
Once we got the CTD operational, the techs showed me how to use the CTD with the water container rossette and the software. Then they showed me how to set up all of the ship’s computers to display necessary information about the CTD. Using the software that controls the CTD with the Rosette seemed very straightforward. Although setting up all of the systems and computers was a lot to take in, they will have me operate and control the CTD a lot during our next cruise.
Troubleshooting the Level Winder
The Engineers tried to fix the level winder for the CTD for most of the week. Ultimately, they had to call someone from the manufacturing company to fix the level winder. Once help arrived, it took a full day to get everything fully operational.
Conclusion
Although it was an extremely hectic week, I learned many valuable lessons. I am excited for the next two weeks of this internship and learning even more! If everything stays according to plan, on Monday we should be going on a brief sea trial, then the cruise will start on Wednesday. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, and thanks for reading!
Today is day 17 aboard the R/V Atlantis! After 11 days on the pacific ocean, we have finally arrived in Dutch Harbor, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning. Boarding the ship, I was immediately met by a welcoming team who I would soon realize are some of the coolest, most genuinely passionate and skilled engineers in the world.
Forewarning this post has lots of pictures.
Walking back to the R/V Atlantis at night, with the backdrop of the San Diego skyline.
I spent the next several days working closely with the Alvin team, preparing the submersible and its supporting work spaces for the transit cruise ahead. These tasks included everything from organizing and cleaning the machine shop to assisting with the removal and inspection of Alvin’s viewport windows.
Cleaning and inspection of Alvin’s starboard forward window.
Leaving port in San Diego.
On Sunday, June 1st, we set sail on our journey to Dutch Harbor. Within 24 hours of leaving San Diego, we were greeted by 3 days straight of rough, unforgiving, turbulent ocean. Turning wrenches while getting covered in hydraulic fluid and fighting to keep your balance in 20 foot seas really tests your grit. The only escape from this constant roller coaster happened at night. The loud banging of waves crashing against the boat, the roar of the engines, and the shifting of every secured item in the ship trying to escape, formed a loud symphony, aggressively rocking you to sleep.
This sleep was occasionally disrupted by being thrown into the wall of your bunk by a large wave, or, in my case, the horrible sound of a gallon of bleach finding its way out of a cabinet in my room, flying through the air, and exploding against the opposite wall! Needing to evacuate your room at 3am because of a chemical spill is a rude awakening, one I will never forget.
Despite the challenges, this transit cruise was one of the most incredible experiences of my life so far. Having the opportunity to put my skills to the test in such a demanding environment is extremely rewarding.
Here are a few notable pictures I took during transit.
Here are 2 photos captured from the same angle. The first shows the back of the ship being pushed well above the horizon. The second picture shows the large swell as it continued on its journey.
Here is a picture of the rough unforgiving ocean captured from a hydro lab port side window.
This is a small part of the variable ballast hydraulics system featuring the accumulator, one of the many systems I have done maintenance on during transit.
A beautiful 10pm sunset off the port side. The first calm water in days.
Breathtaking view as we crossed over the Aleutians into the Bering Sea.
A perfectly cold and beautiful morning, arriving in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Since arriving in Dutch Harbor, the Alvin team has been hard at work preparing the submersible for the upcoming dive expedition. However, the convenient midnight sunset allows plenty of daylight for exploring this breathtaking new scenery after work.
Preparing to install Alvin’s Ballast tanks.
The view from Fort Schwatka on Amaknak Island, featuring Broad Bay, and Fort Learnard on the far cliffs.
This opportunity has been incredible so far, and it’s just the beginning. Tomorrow June 15, we will be departing on our 18 days of dive operations, exploring what lies bellow the surface of this breathtaking place!
My name is Brian Samuelsen, I’m from Brooklyn New York and have just finished my Associate of Applied Sciences Maritime Technologies degree at Kingsborough Community College, and am pursuing a bachelor’s in marine engineering from SUNY Maritime starting in the fall.
I am privileged to have been chosen to be hosted by the STARC Team aboard the USCG Healy this summer to perform science expeditions and I could not be more excited. I hope to use the time to learn more about research instruments, Coast Guard operations, and just life at sea, as this is my first time going out for an extended period of time.
Some of my hobbies include video games, fishing, and hunting for fossils in New Jersey creeks. My favorite sports team is the New York Mets, and I am proud of my strong Irish heritage.
I will continue to post updates over the following weeks as I progress as an intern, and aim to provide an in-depth look at to what I get to learn from this experience.
Today makes 42 days on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson. As the monsoons close in and the winds pick up, it is safe to say it has been a complete and total whirlwind!
This research cruise is focused on gathering meteorological data. The use of weather balloons allows the science group to record various data through the atmosphere. The giant balloon is filled with helium, and attached to the bottom is a spool of wire with an instrument known as a Radiosonde. The instrument package measures atmospheric parameters such as pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. This information is sent back to the scientists via radio signals. Our highest balloon yet rose to 27.5 KM! The team releases a new balloon every few hours, for continuous data streams. I was able to release one as well!
As well as atmospheric data, the science group is interested in oceanographic profiles. This device, called a Scanfish, is towed behind the boat for days at a time. It swims up and down through the water column, and collects profiling data. Deploying the device means all hands on the stern, working to get it over the back smoothly.
Another data source is the CTD. This is one of the most used pieces of equipment on board a research vessel! This science group is interested in water samples as well, so the large bottles you see will be full once we retrieve the device. The role of the marine technician in this deployment is mainly to operate the hydroboom, which is a horizontal crane of sorts. It can carry an enormous amount of weight, and carries the payload up to 10 feet off the side of the ship. The marine tech also communicates with the bridge and the winch operator, ensuring that the deployment goes smoothly. The scientists are responsible for the control of the CTD electronically, and triggering the bottles to close at whatever depths they want water samples from.
It has finally come time that the buoy on deck can be deployed! This specific buoy is experimental, meaning it is the first of its exact kind. The configuration of instruments is hopeful to provide insight into the air-sea interface, having both air and water sensors attached. This also means, however, that no one is sure exactly how the buoy will behave, or if it will be successful at all. Deployment was a slow, and very careful process. Once the buoy was in the water, all we could do was wait and see.
Our buoy has proven to be a bit cantankerous! After less than 24 hours in the water, the electrical systems onboard the buoy began to fail. The buoy is equipped with several large batteries that are charged by 3 solar panels, yet all charge had been lost. Either the solar panels were not functioning properly, or the equipment on board was too demanding for the batteries to keep up with. We decided it was the best option to recover the buoy, and see if repairs could be made on board. Every day spent at sea can be very expensive, so there is no time to waste. Science must go on!
The team was able to repair the electrical issues within the buoys system, and redeployed successfully. For several days, we received good data from the buoy with no signs of further electrical issues. In the meantime, we worked on other operations in the area. We continued to tow the Scan fish, with occasional stops for CTDs, and other data collection. Once it was time to revisit the buoy, disaster had struck. As soon as the buoy was in sight, we could see that the mast was broken. Sadly, there is no telling exactly how it happened, but the most likely culprit is simply weather conditions. The seas and winds have been very high, and the aluminium mast was under much stress. Trying to recover any equipment that is broken is unpredictable at best. The captain of the ship gathered the crew and scientists, and preformed a risk assessment of the potential recovery operation. With the uncertainty, and possible loose pieces that could come off at any point, there were concerns and discussions about the safety of such an operation. We were able to find solutions to our concerns, and decided that recovery was possible. We very slowly approached the buoy, and after two attempts and nearly 3 hours, were able to safely recover the equipment.
At sea, there are an infinite amount of problems and solutions you can encounter. It is important to keep an open mind and to think outside of the box when performing research! This week has proven to me that there are always work arounds and more chances to be had. Though the buoy is officially out of commission for this cruise, theres no doubt that it will float again, eventually. The beauty of an experiment such as this, is that it will only improve from here. The scientists now know the weak points, and how to improve it for its next deployment!
The rain here is picking up, so as we all don our foulies and our rain boots, we wish you luck on all of your endeavors! Stay safe and stay dry out there sailors.
I have completed my first week on the Hugh R. Sharp. My mentor was kind enough to have me come a week in advance of the planned missions to help ease me onto the vessel. This week, I learned and assisted with the remaining general maintenance tasks that marine techs must complete before mobilization.
I loved my mentor’s teaching method. He understood that real skill is built through action. From the first day, rather than feeling like an intern, I felt like I was working on the ship and was part of the crew.
A Brief Day in the Life
Since we are still at port, every day I would wake up at 4 am to go to the gym with a crew member roughly my age. We would get back at 6:30 am to eat and get ready for our work day. The day would start roughly at 7 am, and it almost always began with discussing a brief plan for the day. We would have to coordinate with others to formulate our daily plans, sometimes making material orders or checking on part fabrication orders. Once the day was done, I would usually shower, then relax and go to sleep.
First Work Day
From the first day, my mentor allowed me to take an active role.
I spent the first half of my Tuesday touring the facilities and meeting the crew. The second half of the day, I was between a cable spool and a cable-level management system (Caley). I was adjusting, loosening tension, or cutting the slack of wires as needed to ensure the Caley had its full range of motion while having a clean-looking wire management. Once I completed that job, I became a tool fetcher for the engineers of the vessel for the remainder of the day. The engineers needed to complete their checks before we could continue with the tech’s responsibilities.
The Rest of the Days
Shortly after, I was notified that our first mission would be canceled and replaced with a Sea Trial. The University that was originally scheduled had a conflict and was unable to make it.
On Wednesday, I did more wire management. It was a multiple-person job, as one person had to be on the bridge, carefully pulling the individual wire up to spool it, and the other had to signal when to stop pulling and hold the wires in place.
In the latter half of the day, I did a mechanical CTD cable termination under the supervision of my mentor. There are multiple phases to the mechanical portion of the cable termination, one of the last was pouring molten aluminum to secure the cable, and then tension testing our mechanical connection.
On Thursday, I did the electrical portion of the CTD cable termination. This includes stripping the wire casing, then color coding and crimping the wire ends together. I got to use special wire crimper connectors that used solder, helping waterproof the connections. Once the connections were made, we encased them with scotch cast using a mold. The remaining portion of the electrical work is to connect the cable to the CTD.
At the end of Thursday, we needed to get the Caley stats computer (showing stats like tension on the cable) to display its information on the main computer. This would make it easier for the people on the bridge operating the Caley. We found the supposed IP address and Port Number, but we could not get it to connect to the master display software of the main computer. Thus, I thought to look up command prompts to show IP addresses that the main computer can detect. Once I used the command netstat -ano, and saw that the Caley Stats Computer IP was not detected. From this result, I knew either the Ethernet cable was not plugged in all the way at the Ethernet switch, or the IP address was wrong. Luckily, it was the Ethernet cord not being plugged in at the switch.
Friday was a half-day, the marine techs and I went to a couple of places and stores to pick up a custom transducer mount and other materials that we will need.
Conclusion
The whole crew is extremely nice and fun, and helped me have an amazing first week! On Monday, the 9th, we will start mobilization for the Sea Trial. I cannot wait to learn even more during this upcoming week!
Tomorrow marks one month spent aboard the R/V Thomas G Thompson! I am beyond blessed to have such an incredible opportunity to sail through the Bay of Bengal, chasing storms and deploying equipment throughout this warm and ancient ocean. I am always amazed by how things come together with such a vast array of personnel, all coming from different backgrounds, educations, and experiences. I am inspired by their stories, and for the pursuit of knowledge. I am excited to let my ambition go unchecked and see where it can take me!
Leg two of this research cruise has been a bumpy start, in more ways than one. Learning how to navigate complex shipping schedules, crowded dock space, and working with immigration has proven frustrating at times. And then came the rain! Monsoon season here in Thailand is beginning, with some regions getting up to 3 meters of rain annually. Rain introduces new complications, but also brings data along with the low pressure systems. Meteorological information is what we are seeking, after all.
AB Brian donned his foulies to work through the rain, securing down a deck full of instruments.The whole crew comes together when there is work to be done. This giant buoy got assembled and secured down until we are ready to launch it!
Everyone involved is responsible for their part, including the marine technicians on board. The first few days may be our busiest ones, all going according to plans (spoiler alert: it never does!). Techs and ABs are responsible for getting the science crew, and all the gear they bring, settled onto the ship as quickly and smoothly as possible. The decks fill quickly with equipment and instruments.
The Thomas G. Thompson is by far the largest ship I have sailed on. She is outfitted with oceanographic and meteorological sensors in every nook and cranny. On the very top deck, known as the 05 or the flying bridge, we replaced an anemometer, or a ‘wind bird’. It is a lofty feeling to be climbing a ladder so far above the sea, being able to look out on the vast expanse of blues! There’s me on the ladder (Hi me!). Leg one of this scientific mission was smooth sailing, both in terms of the unusually calm seastate, and the workflow. Now, after about 10 days in port, back and forth between dock and anchor, we are underway! We finally received the shipments we were waiting for, and finished our mobilization phase on the dock.
Now, the science can begin! We are deploying weather balloons equipped with radiosondes every 6 hours. The balloon will rise into the stratosphere, and using the attached sensor, measure parameters such as temperature, humidity and wind speed. This information is vital for understanding weather patterns. Look at ’em go!
“toil and turn under the sun,
c’mon Greenhorn! work’s just begun;
heave the anchor, tie the lines,
now sailing feel the winds divine;
a sailors job’s a rotten one,
when waves crash and thunder drums;
make way through twisted course like vines,
’til you again see brave coastlines;
dream not yet of landlocked loves,
lest the days escape and hands be dumb;
barely from the harbors brine,
sail out to sea just one more time”
Each time the ship comes to port, personnel board and disembark from their hitch. Some may spend weeks at sea, while others months. The time away from home can be both adventurous and at the same time draining. With each sea going person I meet, I come more to the understanding of this balance.
We have just about 3 weeks to deploy the buoy, drifters, weather balloons, CTD/UCTD casts, gliders and more! The increasing swell of the sea can make deck operations difficult and unsafe. We work with the captain and the science team to adapt plans that best suit everyone’s needs. So we’ll be here, watching the weather and deploying balloons! Catch you on the next setting sun, scallywags…
My name is Namith Kennedy. I am moving on to my sophomore year of college in Northwestern Michigan College’s Marine Technology B.S program. I am extremely honored and excited to intern with the University of Delaware’s Hugh R. Sharp Team. I hope to learn as much as I can, tackling everything with a growth-oriented mindset!
If you shoot for the Stars,
Worst case you end up on Mars
By Namith Kennedy (realistically someone has probably said this before)
This is one of the quotes I came up with to help nurture a growing mindset that moves through failure.
Where it started
In the picture above, I was an upcoming junior in High School and just completed my first sound velocity cast. Since my sophomore year of high school, I knew of my desire to be involved in marine technology. This interest led me to reach out to the NMC Marine Technology program director at the time, Hans Van Sumeren, to ask for a summer internship. I had an absolute blast with the experience. Everything from the team environment, the work, the views of nature, and the unlimited possibilities helped ignite my growing passion for the field.
A little fun fact about me
During high school, I played football and rugby. Football has been in my life since I was five years old. I love all formats of football, including fantasy football.
In the picture above, I had the honor of shaking hands with many Vietnam veterans and other service members during a tribute game called the Patriot Game. This upcoming fall, I will pursue my passion for the sport of football by coaching middle school football.
Conclusion
Since discovering the marine technology field, my enthusiasm for it soars higher every day. The opportunity that Unols and the R/V Hugh R. Sharp team have provided for me will act as premium kindling, supporting my growth. I am excited to share my month-long journey with everyone!
Hello readers! My name is Daniel Silguero, and this is my introduction. I am not quite a writer and never have been, so bear with me. I am currently a student at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Collecting the coherent thoughts to write this post is not an easy task. My mind is flooded with anxious excitement because later today I will board the RV Atlantis, setting sail on an adventure I have dreamed about since I was a little kid. Every academic goal and achievement I have accomplished have been small and deliberate stepping stones toward this moment!
For as long as I can remember, I have had a fascination with the aquatic world and a passion for engineering. I would spend much of my free time building, breaking, soldering, and sealing small underwater robots attempting to see what’s deeper than I can swim. Now, its finally time to step onboard and play my role in real-world deep sea ocean research, working alongside some of the most brilliant technicians in the industry.
Over the next 5 weeks, I will be part of the Alvin submersible team, sailing along the Aleutian islands of Alaska. I will be learning the intricacies of maintaining and operating a state of the art manned submersible system while finally experiencing what my younger self could only dream of.
I don’t think its possible to effectively describe the way I feel. The emotions of knowing how hard I have worked to be here are immense and I just know this is where I belong!
Over the next few weeks, I look forward to posting updates of my journey, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store!
