Time to Make Some Waves

Beach clean up at the North Shore of Oahu with a future marine biologist (and pro surfer).

In the United States, higher education is expensive. Let me rephrase that…higher education is miserably expensive. The average tuition for a private college is $35,087. The average tuition for a public college (out-of- state) is $21,184. The average yearly tuition for a public college (in-state) is $9,687 . Note: this does not include room and board, food, books, and everyday living expenses. So again, let me reiterate higher education is miserably expensive.

I have been wanting to start a marine conservation non-profit for as long as I can remember – primarily inspired by some of my best friends from graduate school and their ability to dive (pun intended) right into the field. But I never knew how, what, or when I would take the plunge. Well, that is, until March – cue COVID-19. Today (as a result of the pandemic), over half (56%) of college students can no longer afford their college tuition and 79% of parents (with high school seniors) believe that their ability to pay for school has been impacted.

To me (and I am sure to many), the thought of future generations (a generation far more environmentally inclined than those in the past – I would like to think there are millions of Greta Thunberg’s out there) potentially missing out on education due to something such as finances is not right and gives me unprecedented levels of agita. (Oh, yes – side note: agita can be translated as “anxiety” by my incredibly Sicilian grandmother. Continue to read these and I am sure you will hear (read) this term more than once.

We NEED a next generation of “tree huggers”, or “The Next Swell” as you could say (get it!?). Now, at a time when our oceans are facing multiple threats, ranging from climate change to marine pollution to overfishing, we need to act. And, we need to not only educate and provide awareness, but we also need to provide the resources and opportunities for future generations of marine conservationists and scientists to succeed. And that is why we have established “The Next Swell”. Something tells me the future generations are going to do great things…