Feini Yin
Fishadelphia
Philadelphia, PA USA
"I’m glad that I gave myself permission to change my mind."
Career Roadmap
Feini's work combines: Science, Journalism, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
My path was very meandering and I'm not working directly in either of the things I formally studied, though I use skills from both. I think someone could have taken a very different path and ended up in the same place as me. Fishadelphia has two other co-assistant directors and neither finished college. If you're not convinced that college is for you, I encourage you to keep an open mind, ask around, and be intentional about your decision. If you decide you want to give it a go, that's great!
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Environmental Science
Brown University
Graduate Degree
Journalism
New York University
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in both Philadelphia and New Jersey.
2.
As a teenager, I thought I wanted to become a scientist, so I went to college for environmental science.
3.
While in college, I did a lot of marine ecology and marine science work.
4.
I found that I craved more connection with others, so I decided to pivot and become more of a storyteller of science rather than a traditional scientist.
5.
I went back to school to earn my graduate degree in journalism.
6.
I worked as a contributor for The New York Times science section and then as a reporter and producer for a public radio show about health and science.
7.
Now I work as an assistant director for Fishadelphia, a community seafood program based in Philadelphia focused on inclusion and youth empowerment.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was raised by my immigrant grandmother and didn't speak English until I went to school. I felt like an alien around the other kids. Fortunately, I was a curious child and found refuge in just learning about the world.
I didn't feel comfortable sharing my full authentic self with others when I was in school, so I always felt pretty lonely. I've struggled with depression and anxiety since middle school. I've done a lot of work through therapy to help myself.
My parents found out that I'm queer and didn't approve. It shattered my world. It forced me out of this persona of being a good kid who met their parents' expectations. I learned that I couldn't live by others' expectations. I had to honor who I am.