#CultureMakers Vicki Sawyer, Aquarist, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk Where do you think your biggest impact has been, working at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk? After 25 years here it has been such a ride! I started out here in the first class of volunteers. But it is definitely without a doubt working with interns and mentoring them -- even if they don’t go into a career in marine biology. And if they do, I get great pleasure knowing that, hopefully, along the way I’ve built their confidence. The world can be a tough place, with a lot of pressure, and I want to make sure they gain confidence and compassion. The shadow program I run gets a kid in on a Tuesday or Saturday, where they come in hoping for the fun and games part playing with the animals, but they learn that is a small part and they get to really experience the physical aspect of caring for them. Tell us about a day where something happened that made you really appreciate your work? I don’t want to be corny – but I feel that way a lot of days and I know this doesn’t last forever. I swear everytme I walk out onto the seal rocks I know how special it is, it is an earned benefit. It is amazing. Almost every Saturday I go home and know that I gave extra effort making a visitors day. I am very mindful of my impact on people and that’s what charges me up to come back on Tuesday after my two days off ready to come back and do my thing.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 13:00:01 +0000
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