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.
