We are celebrating our 5 year anniversary all month with meet the team blogs. Meet New England Ambassador Breanna Racicot.
1. How long have you been involved with Sharks4Kids?
I met Jillian in August of 2016 at one of her talks on Cape Cod Massachusetts. Soon after I had reached out to her to discuss getting involved with Sharks4Kids. The beginning of 2017 was when I started going out to different schools, and Boy’s and Girl’s Scout troops to talk to kids about shark and the importance of them in the planet’s ecosystem.
2. What has been a highlight moment while working with Sharks4Kids?
I’d have to say one of many highlights was going to a school in Norwalk CT and meeting a bunch of super excited preschooler. My favorite part was this little boy named Lucas who not only was able to answer all my questions but got ahead of me and was giving me facts before I even asked the question. Lucas’ mom was the one who reached out to Sharks4Kids for me to come into his classroom. He was so passionate and knew things about sharks that I had only learned as an adult. I was super impressed the knowledge this tiny human had!
3. What made you interested in sharks?
I became interested in sharks when I was about 5 years old. It was the first year of shark week. Soon after I was allowed to watch the movie JAWS. After watching it I said I want to be like Matt Hooper the shark expert and marine biologist that worked for NOAA. I never grew out of my passion for shark. It took me a while to pursue this dream; but I’m doing it. I find sharks just simply incredible and majestic.
4. Favorite shark experience
Well I’d have to say when I was invited out with Dr. Austin Gallagher to go tag blue sharks off of Block Island Rhode Island. It was my first hands on experience with wild sharks and I was blown away by their strength and color. I was totally memorized by their beauty.
5. What do you look forward to in the future with Sharks4kids?
I look forward to increasing my role as the Junior Ambassador Coordinator to mentor our young ambassadors. I’m also hoping for future roles with Sharks4Kids when I graduate from UCONN with my degree in Marine Science.