LAMAVE Scholars

Growing Through Volunteering

by Selena Galeos

What you do with the choices you get to make will determine the choices you have in the tomorrow of your life. You can elect to stay where you are now, or you can choose to make your life different.

I’ve always played safe, with only a slight hint of recklessness. All my decisions were based on what I believed was practical. Being raised quite sheltered, I knew I needed to break out of my comfort zone in order to grow.

Joining LAMAVE is the single, most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done.

Selena enjoying the sunset after doing 3 in-water surveys for the day at the Apo Turtle Research & Conservation Project.

Working in a remote setting with extremely basic amenities is truly a learning experience; it has kept me grounded amidst the external worldly pleasures I am used to. The island runs on limited electricity, and there is no running water. When I started, I wasn’t a confident swimmer nor did I have any prior experience of freediving. I was a fish out of water compared to the other volunteers. In the grand scheme of things, I realized that there was a lot that I didn’t know about. I didn’t know how to do laundry, how to tell the good from the bad vegetables in the market, how to make a meal with whatever is available, and even how to connect the LPG tank to the stove!

Though this decision has been filled with spontaneity, this has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I have learned so much from simple living to intense diving. There were times when I thought that I could never measure up. I constantly doubted myself and would consistently seek reassurance in everything. Eventually, I learned to be more certain about myself. Once I started to move past “living” inside my head and began to dabble with the unknown, I found myself leaning into moments that would surprise me. I took on tasks that seemed daunting to me in the past like swimming in the deepest surveyed area and going to the market alone. Also, after 23 years, I finally learned to eat veggies! I discovered things about myself that I never thought I had but do.

Selena doing a focal follow, recording the behavior of a turtle for 2 minutes.

I also developed a love for the ocean: the kind of love that can only be formed by being able to appreciate the beauty up close. When you realize how delicate the balance of nature is, you become more conscious of your actions, knowing well that the preservation of the environment relies on it. My time with LAMAVE served as preparation and training in research techniques towards long-term scientific goals and policy making. Likewise, research and conservation go beyond in-water fieldwork; it is also about engaging and fostering good relationships with the community. Together with the local community whose livelihood is dependent on tourism, we proudly work towards protecting both land and water resources and promoting sustainability and biodiversity to ensure the protection of sea turtles, the conservation and the restoration of healthy marine ecosystems, and the development of a responsible center for tourism.

Looking back on the times I took the safe, easy route, I realized the opportunities I’ve been missing. There is a whole world out there just waiting to be explored with the only question being where you’re going next. Volunteering for LAMAVE gave me a unique opportunity to discover and immerse myself in new places, meet awesome people, and learn in the process.

Selena practicing diving in the deep (7-10 m) with the help of another volunteer.

Preparing an informative poster on turtles for tourists, something Selena enjoyed.

Another LAMAVE volunteer for the Apo Turtle Research & Conservation Project swims in the water.

It’s funny; before I started in the project, I was scared and unsure of the risk but pursued it anyway because it was an opportunity to give back. As it turns out, it was me who had the most to gain from this experience. It’s really humbling to be able to witness how life, both human and natural, exists in other places. I am certain that my three-month experience with this organization has made me bolder and wiser!