Try new things. That’s been my theme this summer, and ACE has been the driving force behind it.
Coming into this summer, I was sure of three things:
- I would be returning to a local cardiac cath lab for a second summer as a researcher
- I would be taking physics 1 and 2 from May-August
- I would be stuck in my hometown Cincinnati, Ohio all summer.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Cincy, but there’s always been something in me that craves variety. This intrinsic desire is to see new things is what brought me all the way to Durham, and the desire to solve novel, complex challenges on the daily is what spurred me to pursue a career in medicine in the first place. Given that my summer schedule was not offering much change from my school schedule, I realized the summer was shaping up to be deficient in variety. So, when I heard about the ACE-in-Place Thailand program, I was all ears.
I really did not think I was a great candidate. I knew little about Thailand, even less about marine conservation, and absolutely nothing about sharks with names other than Great White. But after talking with Sean, Emily, and other ACE alumni, I discovered that there isn’t really a “perfect” candidate. Rather, this program is all about uniting a diverse group of individuals that are committed to understanding others, being driving forces for good, serving as leaders in their communities—and most importantly for me—are open to new experiences. I was sold. If I could offer one piece of advice to student-athletes considering ACE, it would be this: just apply. ACE not only exposed me to different parts of the world and unique people with powerful stories, but it also guided me along a path of personal development for which I am forever grateful. I had doubts about the virtual program, but I went in with an open mind as I began my ACE journey.
This program is all about uniting a diverse group of individuals that are committed to understanding others, being driving forces for good, serving as leaders in their communities—and most importantly for me—are open to new experiences.
– Conor Bohrer, Duke Men’s Track and Field & Cross Country
The rest of the buildup for ACE went so quickly. Before I knew it, I was on day one with my team. Our group was unique because it only consisted of four people, including myself. Interestingly, the four of us come from only two teams as well: Duke XC/TF, and Stanford Swim/Dive. After a quick game of two truths and a lie, the ice was broken and we were ready to go. Given the nature of our small group, we were able to develop close relationships with one another, our GVI supervisor, Siobhan, and our program community partner, Brendon, from Shark Guardian.
What struck me immediately was the fact that everyone really wanted to be a part of ACE. Zooms become monotonous, but these were different. Our zooms became family gatherings and opportunities for us to laugh, reflect, and share all of the great things we were working on individually. For someone that knew nothing about marine conservation, this was especially beneficial. With the help of my peers and supervisors, I had my questions answered and became a marine conservation expert almost overnight. All I had to supply was an interest and a passion.
ACE in Place was truly an international experience.
– Conor Bohrer, Duke Men’s Track and Field & Cross Country
After the completion of the program, I looked back at all the of the work we submitted in a google drive. We created a social media campaign, made posters for dive shops to display, wrote promotional emails, developed instructional videos, and even pitched the app we were campaigning, eOceans, to a zoom room filled with 50+ conservationists from GVI. While this program was advertised as being ACE in Place Thailand, it was more than that. Our community partner, Shark Guardian, continually stressed that people globally would be watching our reels, the posters we created could be plastered on the walls of a dive shop on any of the seven continents, and the GVI staff we presented to promised that eOceans would be used in all of their worldwide hubs within the next month; ACE in Place was truly an international experience.
Contributing to a global initiative in such a short span is characteristic of the ACE program. As I thought about the opportunity, people, and experiences I had been blessed with, I realized it was about more than just these deliverables and our accomplishments. I developed as a leader, teammate, listener, friend, and man. But more importantly, I had the opportunity to help others do the same, all from my desk in Ohio.
It all began with saying “yes” to something—well a whole lot of somethings—that was completely new.