Milena Acosta
Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific
Costa Mesa, CA
"Choose what you love…For me, there's nothing that makes me feel more alive than doing the things that I love or being with the people you love. There's a lifeline to that, an energy in that."
Career Roadmap
Milena's work combines: Environment & Nature, Science, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
Loyola Marymount University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
As the daughter of immigrants, she knew she was expected to be a doctor or a lawyer.
2.
Once she got to college, she finally started to "rebel" a little bit; changed her major to biology.
3.
She'd realized she didn't want to be a doctor; loved animals and science, so biology blended her interests.
4.
Participated in a study-abroad course in Roatán, mostly because it required her to get scuba-certified, which she thought sounded fun.
5.
Says the first time she went diving in Roatán, she was hooked; decided she wanted to dive all over the world, pursue marine biology.
6.
One of her professors recommended that she work at the Aquarium of the Pacific after graduation; she's been there for 11 years.
7.
Growing up, she was the poor kid in class, didn't look like anyone else and had to take a bus for miles to get to school.
8.
Now, she totally embraces who she is, and she uses it to inspire Hispanic kids at the elementary schools she visits.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
A big challenge that I saw was that you are a little bit different and that there was something you have to make up for.