Devin Esser

Background

About Devin Esser

I grew up in the desert (Arizona) and learned to love the water and the ocean at an early age. Playing competitive sports and ultimately growing to love swimming took me many places, helped me escape my limitations, and brought me friendships and mentorship that will last a lifetime. This love of all things water brought me to UC San Diego to swim for the Tritons at the D1 level and to study marine biology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The coursework has been challenging and the campus and community is welcoming. Being selected as the Men's Team Captain by my teammates is an honor I will never forget. The trust, responsibility, and the highs and lows of leadership were all experienced as a team. In my marine biology studies I have solidified my skills in research and reporting, interpreting data, being both curious and diligent, and collaborating well with others. I have confirmed my love of the ocean and all its life, and can see it as a certified open water diver. I look to explore career opportunities that offer hands-on experience in the field. What started as one film course to provide balance between science coursework and the physical demands of swimming turned into a Film Studies minor. As I began to focus in on my film studies, I was fortunate to gain a mentor who has further defined my research, technical analysis and writing and solidified my interest in continuing to pursue this passion. I was also honored to be one of four film students selected to present my research at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference in April, 2025. I am most intrigued to apply the research and analytical skills with the creative thinking and writing skills I've been unlocking and combine them with the many other soft skills I've gained throughout my studies, leadership and volunteer roles and mentorships. I enjoy public speaking, and work well within teams. I look forward to exploring career opportunities that could allow for this growth and exploration in the film industry.