Eugenie Clark Fellowship Reflection-Jade Salis

Yo! My name is Jade Salis, and I am a graduate of Coastal Carolina University. I got my BS in marine science, minored in biology and was a graduate of the honors college, but I felt that my experience was lacking. I graduated in December of 2021 so most of my degree took place during the pandemic. I took labs in undergrad where there was some field work, but much was limited, or made virtual. This left me feeling unprepared for life after college. 
Following graduation, I found myself taking some time to relax a bit. I got a job at a grocery store and told myself that I was going to stay for a while to save money, with my goal being to save up for a car. About 2 months in I went to an event at the Georgia Aquarium and realized thatI missed learning and being involved in the science world. Not long after, I stumbled upon the Eugenie Clark Fellowship on the MISS Instagram. A few weeks after submitting an application, I interviewed and found out that I got one of the four spots. I had never been so excited for an opportunity in my life! I then bought myself a car, put in my two weeks, and drove from Atlanta to Sarasota cheesing the entire way. 
The Eugenie Clark Field Research Skills and Leadership Program was my first real opportunity out of undergrad, and I can say it’s an experience that I will forever cherish. I'm the type of person who likes to try everything once, and that is why I appreciated the structure of this fellowship. It allowed me to increase my experiences and learn more about myself. Each week it seemed we were doing something completely different from the last, ranging from different field work techniques and subject matter, to creating educational content or even attending events like Sharkcon. I can also say that this opportunity introduced me to people I feel lucky to have connected and grown with.
The field days were something I looked forward to the most! Throughout this fellowship we utilized a variety of field sampling methods, many I had never worked with before. We used gillnets, longlines, drum lines, a purse seine, seines, and fished rod and reel. We caught sharks, rays, and fishes that we then worked up and took biological samples from. I was able to work up an 8ft Great Hammer and assist with research done on Spotted Eagle Rays at MOTE. Our vessel days had me doing some of the most exciting things I’d done in my career so far. 
Another aspect of this fellowship that I enjoyed was getting to work with different members of MISS throughout the summer! Seeing others that look like you in different stages of their career as shark scientists was amazing and quite encouraging. This summer was my first time creating educational content for a website, being a camp counselor, and attending Sharkcon. All things I did through MISS and with other MISS members.
I would also like to mention the wonderful group of women I had this fellowship with. Karson, Naomi, and Jahnita were the perfect roommates, friends, and fellows to have spent the summer with. We connected pretty quickly, calling ourselves the ‘shark shawties’, and have stayed in touch since. We continue to share laughs as well as career opportunities with one another, and I can say this aspect of the fellowship is something I cherish heavily. This fellowship helped improve us all as shark scientists through both the experiences and connections, and I can’t wait to see where we all go from here. 
Finally, my amazing mentors made all the difference this summer. Tonya, Jayne, Jasmin, and Krystan were all so different from one another but some of the sweetest people that I have ever met. These four women have different educational backgrounds, are at different stages in their careers, and have shared so much of their knowledge with me. They were the first scientists that I met outside of professors I’ve had, and have shown me the possibilities for women in marine science. I am currently working on my next steps regarding my career and continued education, and I can say that I’m still taking guidance and help from them over a month later. Being able to spend the summer with these women as my mentors was an wonderful experience that I hope others take advantage of. I am so thankful for this opportunity and can’t wait to run into some Eugenie Fellows in the near future.