Hey there! I am Kim S. Hildebrandt, and you are welcome to follow my journey over the next 12 months as the 2019 European Rolex Scholar of the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society, which I believe will be an incredibly exciting time! You will find news on this blog (subscribe), and on the OWUSS European Rolex Scholar Facebook page.
First, I would like to introduce myself, and tell you my story prior to this incredible opportunity.
I am an adventure- and sports-loving person, a passionate Scuba Diver and a Veterinary Medicine student from Hamburg, Germany. Yes, you have read it right – I am the first Veterinarian, who has been chosen as a Scholar, and I still can´t believe it myself!
I grew up on a horse farm, brought up in between animals and nature and with the wish to contribute to their well-being in the future. It was not until 2013, that I encountered what fascinating life lies beneath the surface of the blue sea, while on my year abroad at the Mercury Bay Area School in New Zealand. I participated in the Marine Academy, Marine Science and Outdoor Education courses at High School, gained Scuba Certifications up to PADI Rescue Diver, and fell in love with this world underwater.
Nevertheless, I started to study my childhood dream subject of Veterinary Medicine in 2016, without knowing how I could connect this career path to the marine environment. But throughout the studies, I grasped for every connecting point there was: I attended courses in Turtle Anatomy and Clinics, explored Veterinarian Practice on Fish and Seabirds, visited Conferences and Courses on Wildlife and Conservation Medicine, performed a necropsy on a stranded common dolphin… and eventually developed a distant notion that I could become involved in Aquatic Wildlife Medicine or Research in the future – without a clear idea on how to reach this goal beyond my academic education in Domestic and Farm Animal Medicine.
New perspectives
I found the website of Our World Underwater-Scholarship Society last year. This opportunity sounded like a dream and exactly what I had not knowingly been looking for!
Here I am now – the dream has become true! In the following year, I would love to learn about:
- Veterinary Medicine: … how I can contribute to Aquatic Animals well-being with my academic knowledge in Veterinary Medicine, for example in Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation
- Research: … following my special interest in Marine Megafauna, I would like to gain insight in fieldwork and research in and around these species as well as Scientific Diving in general
- Conservation and Communication: … what the important links in effective Wildlife and Ocean Conservation efforts are, as well as how photography, videography, science communication and public outreach can be tools to inspire and help in it
- Diving for Recreation: … I would like to improve my skills in Scuba Diving and Free Diving and be able to provide opportunities to more people in order for them to appreciate diving and the fascinating environment that it takes place in.
Across the big pond
Nevertheless, I just quite grasped the full extent of what unbelievable opportunity is opening up in front of me from this moment on, and what an inspiring family I am now part of, while the breath-taking Annual NY weekend.
I had just finished my last exams and moved out of Lisbon, where I had spent an Erasmus semester in the last months, and drove in my little car from there back to the North of Germany. And from there directly off to New York!
It was so good to meet all these virtual people, who have written emails to me in the past weeks personally. I felt absolutely welcomed and supported from the first second! What an inspiration it is, seeing so many people passionate about the amazing blue, and giving more and more young people the chance to learn more about it!
The weekend began with the fitting of our soon-to-be personal Rolex watch – what a tease, to fit it and then having to give it away again for a short time!
The next day, the incoming 2019 scholars were introduced to the Board of Directors, where we also received our amazing underwater photography gear – thank you so much to Reef Photo and Video, Nauticam, Light and Motion and Paralenz – I can´t wait to try it all out! – and then Neha, Joanna and I got to spend the afternoon together. All of us are nature-loving individuals and therefore quickly agreed on wandering through Central Park – we really appreciated a break from the overwhelming size of NYs buildings in the middle of blossoming cherry trees. Joanna and Neha are two very lovely people and I can´t wait to see them again and what this year will bring for all of us!
On Saturday, we got to visit the famous Explorer´s Club, where we received our student membership and afterwards could listen to the impressive adventures our 2018 Scholar brothers and sister have had. It still feels so surreal, that we might have the same number of wonders on our presentation next year!
The highlight of the weekend was the Annual Awards ceremony, held in the breath-taking NY Yacht Club. Bursting from excitement, we first watched the videos of the incoming Scholars, before the moment came – Neha´s, Joanna´s and my name were called and we walked up the stage. We received our medals, Rolex watches and flags, which will accompany us on our travels in the next year – and gave our speeches. Wow, I guess, it was official from that moment on!
As happy as we were about being able to initiate our adventures from then on, it was sad having to say goodbye to everyone the next morning. I can honestly say, I am incredibly thankful for all the loveliness and support that I have experienced from this family already – and I cannot wait to see you next year again, if not on the travels already!
Last but not least, I would like to give another huge and special thanks to the Our World Underwater-Scholarship Society and Rolex for making this all possible, as well as all the other amazing sponsors who have got and will get me suited up for such a versatile year of Scuba Diving in all kinds of environments: Fourth Element, Halcyon, Reel Diving, Shark Dive Gear, and Suunto.
