Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Rodriguez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Riverside CA, and always loved visiting the beach, often spending much of my childhood at local beaches in Newport, surfing and learning to SCUBA dive at Corona Del Mar beach when I was 15 years old. In college I studied Biology, and always had aspirations of working on or near the ocean as a professional. I volunteered for the Aquarium of the Pacific working in animal husbandry and diving, I interned for a shark research lab, and the US Navy working with marine mammals. I learned through a colleague at the Navy that you could work on tourism boats whale watching- which I had no idea was even a job. I applied to whale watching companies up and down the west coast and landed at Davey’s Locker Whale Watching in Newport Beach, who hired me on as an outdoor educator for their newly piloted science field trip. I’ve been working in education, marketing and communications since 2013, and I’ve been having a blast living out my dream!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The path to get where I am today was not a straight road, it definitely had it’s turns, from deciding what I wanted to do as a career, and many adults explaining that my career aspirations would ‘never make me any money’, often detouring my goals and passions. Once I settled into the fact that I wanted to do something that I loved, and I gave it my all, it was amazing what opportunities came with that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have worked in outdoor, informal education since 2013, building a team of amazing educators and educational programs that have taught thousands of students during my time with the company. It has been one of my greatest joys to watch students learn from real world experiences, and be inspired by the ocean- just like I was at their age.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Passion, I think this shines through to help educate passengers, and create a mindset from people that experience our trips to care about our oceans.
Pricing:
- $36 adult weekday whale watching
- $40 adult weekend whale watching
Contact Info:
- Website: https://newportwhales.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newportwhales/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewportLandingWhaleWatching/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newport-landing-whale-watching
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NewportWhales
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/daveys-locker-newport-beach-5
Image Credits
Photo Credit to: Davey’s Locker Whale Watching
