I Hope She...

Hey Team!

So instead of doing real work, I think it's time for storytime...

Once upon about a month and a half ago, I had the pleasure of sitting out on the harbour wall for 2 hours waiting for dolphins to arrive so I could photograph them.

I was not disappointed. Almost immediately upon my arrival, a mother and calf, two of our regulars, came right up close to the wall, much to the delight of everyone around me. I took photos, made sure they were good, then settled in for the show. I was more waiting to see if they did anything interesting, already having taken photos for actual science.

As I was sitting back down, this little girl, who I found out later was seven years old, starts asking me questions. Who are the dolphins? Is it a mom and baby? Where's daddy? I showed her the pictures I took, explaining who the dolphins were (Nick (015) and her calf 220, if anyone is interested), and that yes, it is a mom and her calf, and that the dad's don't really spend time with the mom and calf. I felt a little unsure of how to explain polygynous mating systems to a seven year old, but she seemed to understand - or at least accept it - easily.

That should have been the moment it clicked for me. Silly me though, it took me almost the entire hour we sat there - me, her, her parents and her brother - to realize this girl was brilliant. And special. Her interest in the dolphins, the level of questions she asked about them - about their feeding and travelling and socializing - I think back to it and I am amazed all over again. Her father was also taking photos and participating in the conversation, and she matched him in curiosity  and followed the conversation every step of the way. I was completely enraptured by this little girl from Southampton.

The conversation had to come to an end as dinner time approached, but we managed to agree that dolphins are the most intelligent (her word) animals on the planet and one of her favourites. Alongside puppies. And that her wish was to see dolphins while in New Quay, so her wish came true.

Not to be left out, her brother was keen to show me a rather interesting piece of metal he found in a crack in the harbour wall. Buried treasure, just like a pirate, we decided. This was his wish for New Quay. So it was a wish-fulfilling day for the whole family.

As we waved goodbye, I felt completely blessed to have been out on that wall that night. We meet a lot of people being out surveying for dolphins, photographing them, but usually it's a passing question, a quick story. This was a life moment for me.

Now, people who know me know I love kids. I've been working with them since I was twelve, and have never regretted a moment of it. I remember how I felt as a kid, looking up to the grownups around me, soaking up all their attentions and lessons.

I feel silly and a little vain saying this, but I really hope this little girl remembers me for at least a while. I want to be someone who she remembers alongside the dolphins. I hope she never forgets the feelings of awe she had seeing them.

I hope she never loses her curiosity. I want her to grow up questioning everything around her and always wanting to learn more. I don't want people to sugar-coat her world because she is strong and smart enough to understand that not everything works in nice, appropriate units.

I don't want her growing up feeling like humans are the most superior species on the planet. I want her to remember that there are so many ways to measure intelligence and that just because we do a lot, doesn't mean everything we do is right.

I'd love to randomly come across a profile of an up and coming marine biologist in 20 years time and read about a woman from Southampton who now works in marine mammology, but I doubt that will happen. It would be too much to inspire her to follow the same path as me. But I hope I did inspire something. Or that the dolphins did.

Maybe they'll go home and buy her a book on dolphins. Let that be a gateway book to books about the ocean, the rainforest, the planet. Let her delve into the world around her, under her, above her.

I can't believe the emotions I am getting just writing about her. This little girl, one exactly like so many I've met before, will have a lasting impression on my memory and my heart.

May she grow into the woman I truly believe she can be.

Speak Loud.