25 (More) Reasons To Stand With SeaWorld
By Erin McKinney
Whether you choose to believe it or not, SeaWorld changes lives. And the ways people experience this change are as varied as the people themselves. I’ve told my SeaWorld story a hundred times, how a single visit gave me a whole new perspective on life and helped me develop a passion for the marine environment that lives in me every day.
Today a certain vocal minority will raise their signs in misinformed union toward a park full of hardworking people that are striving to unite the public with nature. In the spirit of countering hate with love, here are 25 stories of people from across the country (and the world) whose lives have been enriched at the world’s most remarkable theme park.
Myself, these supporters who offered their stories, and thousands of others from around the globe stand in solidarity with the animals and employees of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. If you would like to share your story of how SeaWorld changed your life, please email me at 1awesomeocean@gmail.com
1. “SeaWorld changed my life because they showed me how to really care and love animals. I’ve gone to SeaWorld since I was 2 years old and have loved killer whales and dolphins and all ocean animals since then. I’ve participated in multiple beach clean ups when I lived near the beach and even when I visit just for fun, I clean up any trash on the beach I see along my path. If I was never introduced to SeaWorld, I would never do that or have such a deep care for sea animals. SeaWorld taught me that we all share this planet with animals. It’s only right to care for them as well.” – Alyssa V.
2. “When I was two, my mom and dad brought me to SeaWorld for the first time. Ever since I could remember, I was in love with the orcas and dolphins. I remember seeing the bond between the orcas and the trainers and knowing that I wanted that with all of my heart. I remembered watching the trainer perform with the orca and I saw the bond between them. I remembered thinking to myself, “I want to be just like her.”
Next summer, I am going to be able to do something I have wanted to do since I was little, and that is Career Camp! I am so excited to experience more of what SeaWorld can offer, and to see all of the amazing animals once again! This is my SeaWorld story. It all began long ago, but it continues to be written to this day.” – Katie J.
3. “SeaWorld has had a huge impact on my life since my very first visit aged 7 in 2004. SeaWorld Orlando allowed me to experience and connect with animals I would never normally see here in England. When I first laid my eyes on these beautiful creatures at SeaWorld, I was changed. Changed forever. Coming eye to eye with a dolphin allowed me to realize my dream in that I wanted to work with these animals as my future career. I have not only developed a strong passion for the animals in their care, but also for the species in the wild. Furthermore, my life is now geared towards becoming a trainer at SeaWorld; I’m currently working towards a Degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Plymouth. I’m adamant and determined to achieve my dream. On my three other trips to the park, I found a passion for killer whales too! Before visiting Orlando, I knew very little about this particular species. I was absolutely mesmerised during the Believe and One Ocean shows and I learnt so much about these incredible animals. Without SeaWorld, I certainly wouldn’t have the passion I do for sea life.” – Megan W.
4. “On my family’s first day in the Sunshine State, we went to SeaWorld of Florida, and I saw Shamu. With my mom, dad and little sister by my side, I stood on the railing at Shamu and just watched the trainers caring for the whales in between shows. The whole purpose of our trip was to waltz around Cinderella’s castle and fly with Dumbo, yet the most prominent memory I have of my family’s first trip to Florida is seeing Baby Shamu bowing beside her mother during the night show at SeaWorld’s Shamu Stadium. Watching the trainers jump into the waters with the world’s largest dolphin was mesmerizing and life-changing. The white of the whale’s eye patch glistened in the stadium lights. A tall man in a red and black wetsuit jumped into the blue waters for the night’s playtime with Namu, Shamu and Baby Shamu. Even after the final wave goodbye from the whales’ tail flukes, I continued staring beyond the backdrop of the show pool as the trainers zipped around backstage and finished feeding the whales as the night came to an end. From that moment on, all my dreams and birthday wishes were filled with becoming that person in the red and black wetsuit playing with Shamu. Right then in there, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. I knew I wanted to be a killer whale trainer. One day, I would train Shamu. Just fifteen years after, I zipped up my very own wetsuit to embark on a decade of living my dream and caring for the animals of SeaWorld San Antonio.” – Bridgette D.
5. “I am an annual Passholder for SeaWorld San Diego. I have been going to SeaWorld ever since I was a little boy. I remember as a little boy, my grandmother bought me a Shamu plush that I took home with me. I was so in awe by the majestic creatures that I took Shamu plush in the bath with me thinking it could make leaps like Shamu did at the park. All I learned was that it soaked up the water and tinted it blue. However, it inspired me to respect our oceans, our sea life, and everything that depends on it. As an adult, the park never ceases to amaze me and I never thought how the animals in the facility would touch my life. It encouraged me to seek out knowledge, the truth, and ways to save these ocean creatures. Not until this last year have I learned so much about Orcas and the wonderful work that SeaWorld does. It would be a shame if SeaWorld was not around to inspire my children and future generations.” – Noel I.
6. “The first time I went to SeaWorld was when I was 3. I don’t remember it, but all I know is that I loved it! We went back when I was 9 in 2007, and saw the Believe show. That was the day that I decided I was going to be a marine mammal trainer, one way or another. I knew that not all killer whales were called Shamu, and yes, the Believe show did encourage me to learn more about killer whales and the ocean. Every time I get the chance to take a vacation to California from my home state of Arizona, I like to go to the beach and walk along the sand, watching the tadpoles circling my feet. SeaWorld opened an entire world to me that I didn’t even know existed, the world beneath the surface. Believe it or not, there are MILLIONS of kids like me that were changed by SeaWorld and their message of conservation. And every one of us has made an impact on the world around us.” – Kristin W.
7. “When I was 3 years old I was fortunate enough to be chosen out of the audience to sit on Shamu. From that day forward I knew I wanted to work with whales and dolphins. Since then, I’ve dedicated 19 years to making that dream a reality. Through visits to SeaWorld, attending Marine Zoological Careers Camp at SeaWorld San Antonio, to doing my own research of all animals in the animal kingdom, I’ve learned so much about the animals we share this planet with. With all my studies and visits, I learned that I didn’t sit on Shamu as a young child, I sat on Corky. If it wasn’t for that day 19 years ago, I don’t know where I’d be today. I don’t know if I would have as much appreciation for animals and this world as I do. So I give all my thanks to Corky! I’ve learned that it is much easier to learn about something if you can see it first hand. I still learn something new every time I visit SeaWorld. I’ve made a commitment to pick up at least 5 pieces of trash before I leave the beach. The most I’ve collected is 32 pieces of trash. My family recycles everything possible as well. Small things like saving water, turning the lights off, and even carpooling have also been decisions of my family and friends. SeaWorld has been the biggest impact on my life and I can’t thank them enough for that and for all of the hard work they do for our planet. I cannot wait to be an official part of the SeaWorld team!” – Aleesa S.
8. “SeaWorld & Busch Gardens taught me a lot about animal welfare & a variety of species that I would never be able to encounter if it weren’t for them. Their camps showed me what it was like to work with such amazing animals and inspired me to pursue a career in this field. Their conservation efforts are above and beyond too! Through their camps, I’ve been able to Skype with people who work in Africa in the Ewaso Lions & Cheetah Conservation Fund. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund gives financial aid to these projects and many more that help wildlife worldwide! Because of their contributions, they have led me and many others to be committed to conservation even in our everyday actions.” – Kaleigh R.
9. “I have been wanting to be a trainer since I was 3 years old. Watching the whales has given me a huge passion and care for them. Trainers like Holly, Joe, Dawn, Laura and many more have inspired me to have what they have. I am now 19 in college working towards this and I help volunteer in taking care of rehab sea turtles. Sea World and these trainers have inspired me in a way that I wish it was easy to describe.” – Ashley W.
10. “Killer whales are my passion and have, as a whole, encouraged me to learn about them and to do all I can to protect them. SeaWorld has done so much to conserve these animals, and they deserve more credit then what they get, that is how SeaWorld has affected me and that is why I’ll always support them.” – Christina W.
11. “In December of 2013 I began working at SeaWorld Orlando along side my long time best friend, little did I know how much this seasonal job at Shamu Stadium would change my life. One foggy night in January, I found myself cleaning the glass of Underwater Viewing, thinking of how amazing the bonds were between the trainers and these massive predators, and wishing that I could experience it myself. Luckily for me, our youngest whale, Makaio, decided that it was a great night for dancing, and we quickly became friends. After that night, I found myself spending countless hours (when I wasn’t working of course) down at UV, and connected with all the whales, but none like Trua. After my first interactions with Trua, I knew, there was no other place in the world I’d rather be. After 6 months of working at SeaWorld, I befriended many people who are like me, including a seasoned SeaWorld trainer who has inspired me to make a real difference in this world, just by being passionate about something I love.” – Michelle C.
12. “I have always had a love for all animals but after my first visit to SeaWorld I was truly inspired. To see the animals up close and having connections and interactions with them made me have that extra drive to do more. Since my first visit to SeaWorld I now participate in beach clean ups, donate to the conservation fund, changed my every day actions to use less water, recycle everything I can, reusable bags and cups, not to use straws and lids, unplug chargers not in use and so on. I have shared my actions with my friends and family so these little actions keep growing. Without SeaWorld I would have never had the chance to see the animals like whales and dolphins and sea lions up close. Without SeaWorld that extra inspiration and drive to do more would not be there. SeaWorld is the one who has taught me to care more about what I can do to help and make the World and Ocean a better place for our animals. All the animals in the parks are true ambassadors for their species in the wild.” -Chris S.
13. “SeaWorld doesn’t only inspire me, but makes me want to be a better person every day!! SeaWorld has been a big part of my life ever since I was young, to even now! I’ve worked for SeaWorld for 4 years now, and everyday I’m appreciative that I get to see and hear all the good SeaWorld does. SeaWorld has changed me a lot! I’m more determined then anything to go back to school and learn animal behavior and animal psychology; I spread the word on how great SeaWorld is and how important it is to realize the great things every employee does for the animals! I call them heroes to be honest because without SeaWorld; no one would help all these animals! I’ve loved SeaWorld since I was 4 and would always love and admire their love and affection for these animals” -Bunny D.
14. “I know that my life was forever changed by SeaWorld. They have changed the life of one person. One person can make a difference, and that’s what SeaWorld has taught me. SeaWorld has taught me to love and to respect all wildlife and the earth. And lastly, SeaWorld has taught me to believe in my dreams and never let others change me. If that’s not education, I really don’t know what is. It is because of SeaWorld that I have learned how smart sea lions are, how majestic and powerful a killer whale is, and how playful and agile bottlenose dolphins are. I know for a fact I would never have leaned that had I not had the opportunity to witness them so up close and personal. I am who I am today because of SeaWorld. Just seeing these animals was enough to change my life.” -Mary E.
15. “I live in Central England in a densely populated industrial area, for most of my life I had rarely seen the sea let alone animals in the oceans However at 34 we decided to fly to Orlando and take our eldest son on a once in a lifetime visit to see Mickey Mouse. My first sightings of the animals blew my mind, from the majestic whales the incredible dolphins the sea lions all there in front of me in their skins, not only could I see them but they were doing behaviors at the request of trainers, I couldn’t believe it. To me a fish was a fish swimming the ocean but to realize they were intelligent and in the whales and dolphins are social family orientated I was mesmerized. The first time seeing Shamu soar out the waters I was awe struck by their grace and intelligence, it’s a feeling I never forget. Now 18 years later 40 vacations later I hold the wonder of SeaWorld responsibly for my pleasures in seeking out zoos aquariums across the UK. Most weekends I am in a zoo watching elephants and penguins, it’s changed my life to appreciate the incredible species that share our planet. Unique, majestic, intelligent, social, wow SeaWorld’s taught me so much and I thank them for opening my eyes to the beauties of the living world.” -Malcolm A.
16. “SeaWorld has changed my life in many ways. My SeaWorld journey started when I was just two years old, but after taking part in SeaWorld’s Marine Mammal Keeper Experience, I learned so much about this wonderful facility. I was excited to teach and discuss my experience with others and I found comfort in other SeaWorld fans on SeaWorld’s Facebook page as a teenager. I never really had many friends in school, but having a common ground with some lovely people 4000 miles away allowed me to continue to learn about the animals, especially the orcas, which my online friends taught me to identify. I met some of the wonderful friends that I have today, all the way from England, they share their experiences when I am unable to witness. I just LOVE learning about the animals! Of course, visiting SeaWorld comes hand-in-hand with conservation. Through the years SeaWorld has taught me about climate change and the importance of recycling and taking care of our planet. I transfer what I have learned into everyday life; with SeaWorld I have become a much less selfish person; recycling, donating to charity, conserving energy and water, I have taken part on beach clean ups in England and I share the message to others I meet of how important these things are to our planet. Without SeaWorld, and all the wonderful people I have met on this journey, I don’t know where I would be, sometimes it’s like my life revolves around that park, and I wouldn’t want it any other way” – Angela B.
17. “I have always loved the ocean and all the amazing creatures it contains even though I live far away from the ocean. Whenever I have the wonderful opportunity to visit an aquarium or a marine park like SeaWorld I would enjoy as much as I can because I love getting close to the animals and interact with them. One of the many things I love about SeaWorld is that they are very good at mixing education with entertainment, this way I can do what I love the most and have fun with my friends and family, because otherwise they would not be very interested in learning and making connections with these animals unless it was fun. Whenever I go there I learn something new and these stuff did affect my life because it makes me think that I share this wonderful world with these amazing animals and that they are not just on tv or on a book, they are real and out there! It is our responsibility to take care of the environment. The conservation message was really strong on my life. I began taking shorter showers, using less electricity, not eating sea-food at all because of a word I learned: by-catch, and I am currently working on a project with my school principal on recycling the papers wasted on my school. SeaWorld taught me that these simple acts can make a big difference in our world because “Individually we are one drop. United we are an ocean” – Eduardo E.
18. “SeaWorld has changed my life because it has allowed me to share in beauty. My son was 4 months old when he first watched Nemo and then “Believe” on YouTube and since then I feel that has built the character he is today, he knows how to love animals and the importance of them in our world. He is now 3 years old and has been to Florida twice from the UK and watched one ocean 8 times I know he knows how to trust people from watching the trainers and I do believe if we lived in the USA he would want to be a trainer one day.” – Carli W.
19. “Ever since I was a little girl, I always had a powerful passion for cetaceans everywhere. My first visit to SeaWorld was in 2008, and that visit changed my life. I knew what I was to become in the future, a trainer! Ever since then, I’ve been coming back to SeaWorld, taking any chance I would get to return. I greatly respect their efforts to rescue and rehabilitate, what they do inspires others, including me! These trainers, these whales, this team…have inspired me to keep believeing and to never give up. They showed me the amazing connection that they share with these beautiful animals and how we can protect and conserve them! When I become a trainer, I want to inspire others, I want to connect with others in the same way they have inspired me!” -Jaci P.
20. “SeaWorld changed my life, because they taught me on how to believe in your dreams and don’t be afraid on what you want to become. They opened my eyes to Killer Whales in the wild and in captivity and how much love they get from their trainers when they spend time with them and how much they love them. If it wasn’t for SeaWorld, I would have never fallen in love with a Killer Whale, Kayla, and to learn more about her and her species and to protect the world that we all live in and all share. SeaWorld rescues and rehabilitates thousands of animals a year. When SeaWorld had the Shamu Show “Believe,” “Believe” taught me to not be afraid of what you want to, as long as you love it, believe in it, and enjoy doing it, that you will succeed and love it. That’s why I want to become a Shamu Trainer at SeaWorld. I went to Seaworld when i was a baby and i always been inspired to by the Shamu show and to learn more about all Cetaceans in the ocean and to protect them. The show, One Ocean, inspired me as well. SeaWorld has been inspiring people for 50 years and I hope that they inspire more people in 50 years from now.” – SamanthaJo L.
21. “I’ve always had a deep love and respect for marine animals, and one of the biggest ways SeaWorld has changed my life is by allowing me to experience so many of these beautiful animals up close. Without SeaWorld and other similar accredited zoos and aquariums, I don’t think people would have as deep of an appreciation or understanding of these animals. During one trip to SeaWorld, I was able to touch and interact with a pilot whale that SeaWorld helped to rescue. Just being able to touch an animal that had been rescued by SeaWorld was such a profoundly emotional experience for me that it brought tears to my eyes. Nowhere else in the world would I have ever been able to interact with dolphins, sea lions, walruses, penguins, sharks, stingrays, or beluga whales as closely as I did at SeaWorld. Just having those experiences themselves changed my life. I also have to say that I have made some lifelong friends among SeaWorld trainers, and they are some of the greatest people in the world.” – Rebecca S.
22. “I visited SeaWorld for the first time two years ago. I was a camper and loved every minute of it. I could see the love and kindness towards the animals in every keepers eyes. I know with out a doubt that the keepers there care about their animals as much as they would a child or a pet at home. You could tell the bond was not that of master and animal but of coworkers. It was an amazing experience for me.” – Maddie B.
23. “The first time I saw an orca at Sea World Orlando I was amazed. Never before in my entire life did I ever see a brighter white or a deeper black. No piece of paper or pristinely bleached sheet could match the white and not even the depths of space could match the reflective ebony of the black parts of the whale. I watched in awe how these tiny humans would swim about with these giant beasts, and wonder how they knew how long their passengers could hold their breath since the whales could hold their breath for far longer. Every interaction I saw between trainer and whale seemed to be fun for both of them. The whales would even play when the trainers were not present. Long ago when guests were allowed close to the glass before the show I would watch a whale playing with children. Not responding to hand signals, but making eye contact and play splashing them just for the fun of it. I would also watch them play with the concession people who were trying to sell their beach blankets and stuffed orcas. The whale would quietly stalk their target then when their guard was down the whale would make sure to splash them. Again they did it simply for fun. I grew up in a poor family, and I understand that unless places like zoos and aquariums exist, many children will never see and understand the beauty and wonder of these ambassadors of their species. I will probably never get to Alaska to see wild orcas, I will probably never see an elephant in the wilds of Africa, but if we are to save these great creatures, we must teach our children to love them, and pictures in a book will inspire young hearts to love them. “ – Kellie F.
24. “Life experiences are the things that shape and define who a person becomes over their lifetime. Whether they are positive or negative, big or small, experiences affect the way you live your life. However, simply saying that my life has been ‘affected by SeaWorld is not enough. SeaWorld has done more for me than I can ever thank them for. I have become a bigger person; one that is more aware and understanding of our planet. Their message has inspired me to become a better human; a human that shares a world with millions and millions of creatures. Their conservation story has shown me just how fragile our earth is, and their animals represent how important it is to protect it. Each experience and interaction I have at SeaWorld makes me love these animals more, and makes me want to do anything to protect them. That in itself is the most incredible thing SeaWorld does; it doesn’t just shape you, it totally changes you as a person.” -Blake F.
25. “When I was 13 I took my first trip to Discovery Cove, one of SeaWorld’s sister parks. This was one of the most significant events of my life. When I got to get in the water and interact with the dolphin Yoko I walked away with a new-found love for marine mammals and our planet. Nowadays, l I have made many amazing friends because of SeaWorld and have learned so much about conservation from the parks. I am passionate about helping the animals live wonderful and happy lives in SeaWorld which is why I am very interested in working in the park’s Animal Care department. I want to inspire other people to care for our oceans and I can safely say that without SeaWorld, I would not be the person I am today.” – Morgan M.
