My dad is the reason I love all things ocean related, especially fishing, boating and scuba diving. We love to go fishing, freshwater and saltwater, on chartered boats and with friends on their boats. My love for ocean life prompted my dad to recommend that I join the Lamar Louise Curry Middle School Fishing Club last year. It was a great experience and lead me to my current position as the President of the Fishing Club. My dad and I worked tirelessly to receive grants, sponsorships and raise money through fundraisers for the Fishing Club.
When we are not fishing, we enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, boating, and scuba diving. At ten years old, I became a PADI certified junior scuba diver, thanks to my dad while we were in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic, while on a dive, the dive master made an example out of me on our return to the boat as I was the only one whose buoyancy compensating device was full of red solo cups and trash from the ocean’s floor. The dive master applauded my efforts and reminded the more experienced divers to follow my lead. On a recent trip to St. Kitts, my dad and I went diving with sharks and it was an experience I will treasure forever.
Grace Gillis
President, Lamar Louise Curry
Middle School Fishing Club