What’s Your Story?

This issue of The Waterways Journal carries the obituaries of four maritime industry veterans who collectively worked on, by and for our waterways for well over a century. The amazing thing is that longevity is not that unusual in the maritime industry. That fact is likely old news for most of our readers.

And yet that’s a story young people in high school, college and early in their careers need to hear. The Waterways Journal shared some stories two weeks ago in our wheelhouse special issue. Capt. Kenny Brown has been trumpeting the vast opportunities—and championing the importance of professionalism and perfecting one’s craft—through the Maritime Throwdown. We Work The Waterways does this through its industry interaction events, and many companies have their own outreach programs. Take Turn Services, for example, which will hold a “Turn Tuesdays” recruiting event March 11 in Slidell, La., to target job seekers from Southwest Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana. The company even has a standalone recruitment website: worktheriver.com.

The people in this industry have a good story to tell. There’s adventure, opportunity, natural beauty, significance and strategic value to our communities, this nation and the world. And the next generation needs to hear that story. Kids need to be able to see themselves in you, and they can’t do that if they don’t know you.

So this is a call to share your story, whether it’s in the pages of this magazine, on your personal social media, at an industry event or with your kids’ friends. Let them know what it’s like to see the sunrise from the wheelhouse, or how the cargoes you carry will eventually wind up on the other side of the world.

There’s room for new faces in this industry. Just think: in 50 years’ time, we’ll be telling their stories, thanks in large part to you sharing yours.