Fun Times

I completed my GUE certification today!

As for my position, it's slowly pushing forward. They have an account where my salary will come from, they almost have me in as a temporary employee, I was told that human resources would have a job title for me by tomorrow, and schedules are finally materializing.

This Is What I Do

I thought I had it rough when I tried explaining my student status last year when people would ask what year I was in school:
"Well, I already graduated but I'm switching fields to marine science (not just marine biology like everyone automatically assumes). I'm taking some undergrad and some grad courses with the long-term goal of applying for a masters either here in Miami or elsewhere."
That's about as short as I could possibly get it.

Now that I'm an employee, things are even harder. Whenever I give the bare bones answer of what I do at UM, it goes something like this:
"My job has two components. First I'm the general lab manager for all marine science undergraduate labs. Second, I'm the assistant diving safety officer."

I generally have to give more details about both positions. Explaining the lab manager portion of the position is not hard because the job is very straightforward.  However, no one really understands the other part of my job.  Part of the reason it's hard to convey is that I don't know all of the duties I will have but the other hurdle I have to overcome is that when I say it, it sounds like a petty position.  Anything I say henceforth is out of excitement and to convey what my job is.  I'm not trying to make myself sound better or brag about my position.

Based on facts I've pieced together and a little bit of research I've done on my own online, it's pretty clear that the University of Miami's scientific diving program is one of the most established, safe, and active programs in the country.  Scientific diving differs drastically from recreational diving not only in the goals and purpose of the dives but also in the training and the style of diving that is done.  All divers, regardless of experience, background, and position in the university are required to go through a rigorous semester-long course that honestly covers more diving theory and rescue skills than the PADI Divemaster course and extensively teaches different techniques for positioning, propulsion, buoyancy, and data collection.

As the assistant diving safety officer, I will be overseeing all diving operations that go through the University of Miami of which we had about 130 active science divers last year logging dives.  I will be helping with the classroom sessions, pool training, and open water training dives for students going through the course.  I will also be doing check-out dives for those who haven't been diving in a while, equipment maintenance and servicing, administrative paperwork, and even the chance to go out on field work both locally and internationally.  The position provides full university job benefits as well as the  unwritten ones like obtaining more diving experience and certifications and eventually being able to take and teach the graduate boating certification course alone.  My excitement is pretty intense even though the job has not yet been signed off by human resources (remember my last post?).  I have a lot to look forward to and I will be posting about it right here in this blog so please stay tuned for exciting news from the academic work force!

Included below is a video about GUE, a diving organization (PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc are examples of diving organizations) that commits itself to education, exploration, and conservation.  It is the system in which our science dive training is based on and it is the most thorough system I've ever encountered.  By the way, you can find my instructor and boss in the video sometime in the last third of the video.  His name is Rick.

Save Our Resources

My job is currently tied up in Human Resources. Evidently, HR can't find a job title for me and therefore they don't know what salary bracket to place me in thus can't get me into the system which prevents me from getting a parking permit, staff ID, paychecks, etc. Ultimately I have no job right now and all I can do at this point is hang out and wait for things to come together. In the mean time I can see friends and take care of other responsibilities.

Just like this time last year, I've been very good about productivity and luckily this time I have a head start by knowing people and places here in Miami.

Cartoon from: http://fr.toonpool.com/cartoons/human%20resources_26080

Bienvenido a Miami!

I made it! I'm back in Miami! I loved my visit to Mystic but it is strangely nice to be back in south Florida with the excitement of seeing friends and starting up a brand new job.

Miami skyline

Image from http://sarahvazquez.blogspot.com/2010/08/postcard-from-miami-fl.html

Milestone

I am finally back in the land of the free and the home of the brave. It's been a long time coming and unfortunately legalities do not allow me to talk about the trips. However, there are more important matters at hand, such as employment.

I am now reaching out to the doorknob of a new and exciting doorway that as of yet has untold excitement and opportunity. As with everything in life, there is no moving backwards and this will be the last time I am where I am right now. This is a massive step for me and my life is never going to be the same. Some of you may think this may sound a bit dramatic. It does, but the fact is that it IS. Up until now I have never held a real full-time job in my life. I've worked more hours than I can count in my lifetime at numerous jobs but they have all been part-time, temporary, or seasonal positions.

The job I have agreed to take is to be the general lab manager for all underclassmen undergrad marine science labs. This includes making sure labs are locked and unlocked at the right times and that equipment is where it needs to be when it needs to be there and to make sure it works properly. The other part of the job is to be the assistant dive safety officer. Mind you, the Rosenstiel School (RSMAS) has one of the best diving programs of any university in the country and I would be second in command. This part of the job includes servicing equipment, teaching boating courses, helping with classes, conducting labs, taking care of paperwork, going out to do field work (locally and internationally), and doing whatever else needs to be done. Really when all is said and done, this entire job which is a brand new position that the university is still developing is really one and a half full-time jobs. I will be a university employee and will get full benefits of faculty members. My employers want me to be available long-term, as in several years meaning that I will have to find a more permanent housing situation (no, I'm not excited about leaving the house I'm in with Rafael and Luna).

So yes, I am standing on a new frontier of my life looking out over uncharted land. As far as I can see where I stand, I'm going to have to blaze my own trail here and there, cutting through or going around obstacles and really making adjustments. I look at these hurdles with excitement and a bit of a fire in my eyes. I'm ready to tackle this job. I'm going to miss the vast freedom I have enjoyed for so long as a scuba instructor and student but this job will bring me opportunities that I can't possibly imagine. I will continue to live as I always have: stick with what I love and have the faith that it will take me to where I need to be. As long as I keep that up, nothing can really go wrong.