I am a sophomore at the University of Washington majoring in oceanography.  I am very excited and thankful to be a part of the VISIONS ’14 expedition.  My fascination with the ocean began years ago when, during a walk on the beach with my grandmother, I took notice of the items that had washed ashore.  Where did they all come from?  How did they end up here?  Questions like these made me realize that I should become a scientist and contribute to our understanding of the ocean.  During this expedition, I would like to continue to learn more about the different properties of the ocean, and participate in the revolutionary science being performed onboard.  When on leave from college, I enjoy mountaineering in our local Cascade Range, as well as spending quality time with my family.  I’m also developing an interest in genealogy.  This will be my first research cruise at sea, hopefully the first of many.