This is a more personal story about one of the many ways that Ocaquatics has impacted me: When I first moved to this country, my plan was to study English and pursue a career in the publishing world. However, after I began working at Ocaquatics, I realized that I couldn't imagine a future where I wasn't working with children. This led me to change my major to Elementary Education.
Throughout my growth here, I often doubted my own potential. At every promotion or new challenge, I wasn't sure I could reach the next step. But at every stage, there was always someone at Ocaquatics who believed in me more than I believed in myself.
By the time I became an Assistant Manager, I began to realize that a traditional school setting might not be the right fit for me. When I had the opportunity to participate in the MDC Apprenticeship, something clicked. I saw how much of the business and leadership curriculum I had already learned through my hands-on experience at Ocaquatics.
I realized I wanted to combine my love for working with children with my passion for leadership and service. This inspired me to change my major one last time to Hospitality Management. I am now in my final semester of my Bachelor’s degree, and I look forward to applying everything I’ve learned to my future here.