School-to-Community: Nicole Valenti from Marine Rescue Center

Ms. Nicole Valenti, Education and Volunteer Coordinator for the New York Marine Rescue Center, dedicates her life to educating the public about the preservation of sea turtles and other marine mammals.

Although Marine Rescue Center is attached to the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, it is a separate organization. Marine Rescue Center is the only organization in all of New York that is allowed to rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles and seals. This means that workers respond to hotline calls 24/7 all throughout New York.

“The job requires long hours, and it’s a lot of hard work. You really have to love what you do,” Ms. Valenti said.

Ms. Valenti studied Marine Vertebrate Biology at Stony Brook University. Even as a college student, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

”Picking a very specific major helped me to get a job in the field as quickly as I did because I knew I wanted to work with mammals and sea turtles,” Ms. Valenti said.

She added that volunteering is vital when applying for jobs, especially in her particular field.

“Volunteering is part of the progression. I wish I started in college, but I didn’t start until I had already graduated,” Ms. Valenti said. “I volunteered for three years at the organization before getting a job at the organization.”

Like every career, most days are enjoyable, but it can also be a little tedious.

“Dealing with sick animals; you’re not always able to help every animal,” Ms. Valenti said. “Getting yelled at by people through the phone” is another reason her position is sometimes stressful.

However, this is not always the case at the Marine Rescue Center. For Ms. Valenti, the most rewarding part of her career is when she gets to help animals and provide them with medical attention. Ms. Valenti said she loves all aspects of the job, so at the end of the day, everything she does is all worth it.