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I spent the fall of my junior year living at a marine research field station in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Throughout the semester, I conducted a scientific research study, earned my Advanced Scuba certification and learned to navigate a marine ecosystem that I had previously only observed from shore. I took quizzes underwater on dive slates, went on sunrise dives with sharks, taught local children to swim and formed some of the closest friendships I have ever had. It all happened because Whitman supported my desire to study abroad.

Before college, the idea of studying abroad lingered quietly in the back of my mind, but I was never sure it would actually happen. Whitman’s Off-Campus Studies (OCS) program assured me that if I wanted to I could—no matter what major I chose. It was one of the reasons I committed to coming to Whitman. As a Biology major, I was able to find a global experience that complemented my Whitman education by allowing me to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting and gain skills that cannot be taught from a textbook.

At first, I worried about potential barriers: whether courses would count toward my major, how credits from another institution would transfer back to Whitman and whether financial concerns might push the experience out of reach. Everything changed when I met with an OCS advisor. They helped me identify field study programs, explained the credit transfer process and confirmed that my Whitman financial aid could be applied to help cover the cost. I was immediately relieved. The field study options aligned perfectly with my biology requirements and offered an immersive, hands-on approach to learning. Ultimately, I decided to apply to the School for Field Studies Center for Marine Resource Studies in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I had never studied marine biology before and had limited experience with the ocean. With guidance from my OCS advisor, I completed the paperwork, packed the necessary gear and purchased everything I would need for four months on the remote island on the eastern edge of the Caribbean known as South Caicos, or Big South.

Big South welcomed me with 90-degree heat, thick humidity and water so clear and blue it looked cartoonish. As I settled in, even the sight of spotted eagle rays cruising past each morning almost seemed normal to me. I expected that adapting to field station life, like having only one freshwater shower a week, would be difficult, but I quickly realized that the ocean was a far better and more fun place to rinse off than any indoor shower. From 6 a.m. swims to lunchtime snorkels searching for new fish species, I settled into the rhythm here faster than I expected.

Living and working on the island made the research more than an academic exercise. Every day was an adventure. Some days we had class inside all day, while others we took field expeditions on the island or explored the mangroves by snorkel or dive. My research project focused on the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus). This experience shaped how I approached experiments, collaborated with peers and navigated challenges in the field. The project culminated in a research paper summarizing my findings, and along the way I learned practical field skills, experimental design, data analysis and how to work effectively with people from all backgrounds.

I formed some of my most meaningful friendships with the other student researchers. We did everything together, from dancing our way through kitchen duty and competing for control of the AUX cord to exploring the little island and all its wonders. Those connections did not disappear when the semester ended. Most recently, I went on a dive trip to California with four friends I met in South Caicos.

Outside the research facility, the local community welcomed us with open arms as they do every semester when a new cohort of students arrives on the island. They showed us what life on Big South is truly like. The other research students and I were invited to sports nights, community gatherings, island clean-ups and other local activities, allowing us to participate in the everyday rhythms of island life beyond the field station. Being immersed in the local community was one of my favorite parts of the experience.

Studying abroad was more than an academic opportunity. It challenged me socially and academically, gave me a new perspective on the world and the natural spaces I was living in. I had no idea what the community I built at that small field school would become. Diving into a field study in a new place with new people was intimidating at first, but I am so glad I took the plunge. I’m grateful for the support I had at Whitman that made it all happen.

Wyatt Albright ’26 (she/her) is a Garrett-Sherwood Scholar majoring in Biology from Winthrop, Washington. Wyatt works as a student assistant in Whitman’s Office of Admission. She invites you to say “Hi!” if you cross paths when visiting campus.

Check out more photos from Wyatt’s adventures abroad.