{"id":33076,"date":"2026-02-17T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teachmag.com\/?p=33076"},"modified":"2026-02-05T14:07:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T19:07:50","slug":"raising-awareness-of-careers-in-the-marine-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachmag.com\/raising-awareness-of-careers-in-the-marine-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s How Captain Sandy Is Raising Awareness of Careers in the Marine Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Kelsey McCallum<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sandy Yawn, the current lead and first female superyacht captain on Bravo\u2019s reality TV series Below Deck Mediterranean<\/em>, is one of the most recognized captains in the world. With over 30 years of international maritime experience, she has long inspired audiences and fellow crewmembers alike with her calm confidence at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But before her illustrious career on the water began, Captain Sandy struggled with addiction as a teenager. After getting kicked out of eleventh grade, she found herself washing boats at a local Florida marina, a moment that unknowingly launched her future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, Captain Sandy\u2019s career has reached heights she never imagined, and she\u2019s now helping others find their own fresh start through the same industry that changed her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her foundation, Captain Sandy\u2019s Charities<\/a>, is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating tomorrow\u2019s maritime leaders and environmental stewards. The charity champions inclusivity, sustainability, and career preparedness for students across Florida\u2014building awareness for a rapidly growing sector that needs skilled, passionate professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recently spoke with Captain Sandy about how her foundation\u2019s educational initiative, Steering Toward Success<\/a>, is creating opportunities for young people to thrive in the maritime workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The marine industry offers far more than just one career path. It offers many different options\u2014from sales and charter brokerage, to shipyard work, to life at sea. Whether you want to stay on land or go offshore, there is a place for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the opportunities are real. People who work in the marine industry can earn up to 20 percent more than many land-based jobs, often with full medical coverage and outstanding benefits. You travel, meet people from different nationalities and cultures, and build relationships all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along the way, you also learn about navigation, the oceans, marine life, and the cities and ports you visit. The sea becomes your classroom, and the world opens up in ways that most other careers never offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For me, choosing a career in the marine industry was the best decision I ever made. It didn\u2019t just give me a job, it gave me a life filled with purpose, growth, adventure, and opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ: Why is it important for students to consider the marine industry as a viable career option?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Q: Steering Toward Success, the foundation\u2019s educational program, is geared towards raising awareness of job opportunities in the marine industry for students across Florida. Could you tell us a bit about how the program works?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n