UC San Diego! Where on Earth is Jesse Andrews?

Wow! This summer proved to be the best experience of my life! I traveled on R/V Melville, the boat that was in the original King Kong. For research of course. I went to Mexico with a wonderful Friend E. Hernandez. I got to meet law makers and politicians for a much needed discussion on health care in America. From Dallas to Washington D.C. and Chicago!
UC SD used me also as model to be posted on busses and bus stop advertisements.
This post will be pictures and articles that I wrote of the experience that I had. You can visit the site as well, https://sites.google.com/site/sandiegoseaflex/undergrad-view.
A True Champion posted Jul 16, 2012, 11:29 AM by Shannon Casey   [ updated Jul 16, 2012, 11:46 AM ]

A famous quote by the late Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, world class educator and civic leader, says “Life is just a minute only sixty seconds in it, forced upon you, can’t refuse it. Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it, but it’s up to you to use it. You must suffer if you lose it, give an account if you abuse it, just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it.” I can truly say I have been a true champion with my 248 hours of sea time! I am quite proud of myself and this achievement will be the highlight of my life for years to come. As I reflect I must do so with appreciation and gratefulness for such an opportunity. Photo: Jesse is grateful for his experiences on the San Diego Coastal Expedition. The environmental changes that take place in the ocean are real and this cruise collected data to help us understand the effects. Effects such as hypoxia, or reduced dissolving oxygen, acidification due to the increase pCO2 levels and low pH, and also ocean warming of 1°C, are issues we must address. I was glad I was on the Shelf Team, the team that used the ROV as the medium in which to assess these issues. The ROV allowed us, at times, to see what’s going on and what to expect. By no means is this information conclusive, as we only looked at summer conditions, but it is a guide as to where and what we should look at. The intensity with which the ROV team worked was, well, INTENSE! The research technicians worked just as hard as the ROV team. What better way to learn what is common and what is not, then by actually studying it? Being on the team made an impact on my understanding of marine ecology and marine animal behavior. Mike Navarro is an outstanding graduate student mentor. There was nothing I couldn’t learn from him and nothing he was not willing to teach me. At times we had to trawl at the bottom of the ocean which was a learning experience. The trawl captured some valuable information as to how the marine organism’s habitat changes with depth. Photo: Jesse (right) and his fellow student scientists make trawl operations fun! I met some amazing people. Faculty, graduate students, crew members, and other undergraduates I will work with in the future. They were very patient and very persistent. They enriched and enhanced my skill set by letting me work on many of their different projects. They even challenged me to broaden my perspective and to step outside my comfort zone. The San Diego Coastal Expedition was a fun and memorable experience and I look forward to many more oceanographic ventures this summer!-- Jesse Andrews, Morehouse College undergraduate student Lions, Tiger & Bears, Oh My?! posted Jul 16, 2012, 11:14 AM by Shannon Casey   [ updated Jul 16, 2012, 11:34 AM ] Lions, Tigers & Bears, no, not really. Now that I got your attention, I might as well tell you a little more about the San Diego Coastal Expedition. I really love being a scientist; it’s like sitting in the theater attentively watching a Jet Lee movie. Science keeps you on the edge of your seat. This cruise is truly amazing and I have enjoyed everything thus far. As I mentioned earlier, I have been heavily involved in all things on this cruise. From CTD casting and micro-bacterial filtering to multi-coring and ROV operations. Where else does an undergrad get a chance to experience such a phenomenal opportunity? Whether it’s physical oceanography or marine biology, this cruise has truly taught me the art of team work. It’s normal to work together as a team, but to innovate and collaborate with other teams all for the cause of science is remarkable. Again, I love being a scientist. Pulling all-nighters is normal for me as an undergraduate student who can sometimes procrastinate. However, these all-nighters are different. You get to experience some amazing things, from seeing polychaete worms to learning about the complexity of salps courtesy of Amanda Netburn. Salps are these cool tunicates that live in the epi- and mesopelagic zones. Also, I cannot forget my first look at brachiopods. These cool marine animals are filter feeders that can live at deep depths in the ocean. They often are confused with clams because they have similar morphological features. Photo: Salps attached to the multicorer after a nighttime deployment. Worms, Salps & Brachiopods, oh my! I am learning so much from the graduate students, I would have never thought titration could be so much fun! I did it in chemistry class my sophomore year, but like the year suggests, I was truly a wise fool because I didn’t think people would actually use it in the field. Well, back to work I go, it’s multicoring time!-- Jesse Andrews, Morehouse College undergraduate student Made at Scripps™ posted Jul 4, 2012, 11:27 AM by Shannon Casey   [ updated Jul 4, 2012, 5:21 PM ] Everything seems to be made in China, but when it comes to oceanography at Scripps, a majority of the tools used on this voyage are made by Scripps. This ranges from filters in the lab to nets used in the bio box on the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). These past few days teams have been working, collaborating, and adjusting these tools as necessary, and it’s amazing to see it all happen right before my eyes. Photo: Undergraduate student Jesse Andrews helps deploy Scripps' Remotely Operated Vehicle in San Diego waters. I have been a part of many operations that include the CTD casting, which is a tool used to measure conductivity, temperature, and depth of the water in the ocean, specifically in the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). This helps us measure the salinity of the water (conductivity), temperature, and depth so we can better understand and analyze the biological processes, such as metabolism, photosynthesis, and respiration that take place in the organisms. Could you imagine mud underwater?! The Shelf Team, which includes me, uses an ROV to examine the conditions of the organisms on the seafloor, includng one of my favorites, the Sebastes saxiola, or Rock Fish. We also have been able to use a miniature CTD to analyze the conditions many of these organisms live in. This is by far the coolest because we're 350 meters underwater! Photo: Jesse and fellow student scientists and volunteers learn the ropes from a research technician in preparation for retrieval of the CTD. And if you thought I was done then you’re absolutely wrong! Scripps graduate student Kirk Sato is leading a really “mini” project analyzing, filtering, and looking at bacteria in the ocean. When I say “mini” I mean microscopic, just on a bigger scale. Kirk is curious to know what bacteria live at certain depths in the ocean. These bacteria make up the organisms that inhabit the ocean and matter to their biological processes. I have been working on Kirk's team as well. There is plenty to do on the San Diego Coastal Expedition aboard R/V Melville, and I am glad I am able to learn on-the-spot and in-the-trenches. Oh wait, I've got to go. ROV time! I’ll tell you more later. -- Jesse Andrews, Morhouse College undergraduate student A New Found Venture posted Jul 1, 2012, 11:38 AM by Shannon Casey   [ updated Jul 1, 2012, 2:16 PM ] What was built in 1969, weighs 2,516 tons, and is 215 feet long? The greatest research vessel built by the U.S. Navy for research ever! Yup, R/V Melville. I am excited and in awe to know I will be assisting graduate students on the San Diego Coastal Expedition; a venture I never thought I would be taking. My motto is when opportunity knocks, answer it. Photo: Scripps graduate student Mike Navarro works with Jesse Andrews in the lab aboard R/V Melville Photo: Jesse Andrews (left) with Scripps graduate students and fellow ROV team scientists Mike Navarro and Amanda Netburn. For this expedition I will be working with very talented scientists on the Shelf Team using Scripps Institution of Oceanography's new Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). I had just taken a crash course in oceanography and I learned that in order to understand the ocean and the effects on it, we have to make scientific observations through the data we collect including salinity, dissolved oxygen, and carbon dioxide concentrations. The process is complex and the knowledge behind it is drawn out, but know that as these concentrations change, the ocean changes in response. These changes could be ecological or environmental. The rest will be explained in my later blog. As nervous as I am about being at sea for the first time, I'm confident that this will be an enriching experience for me as I get to see science up-close and personal and also collaborate on multiple levels to accomplish scientific research. As the French say in France, "Bon Voyage!" -- Jesse Andrews, Morhouse College undergraduate student

Why do I run a non-profit, minister to a congregation on Sundays, and take 19 credit hours at Morehouse College?

Oh I almost forgot, and run an entrepreneurial endeavor at the same time?
THIS IS WHY:
"11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." (2 Corinthians 11:24-28 KJV)
It's called Tenacity! Get with it. Twice in two weeks, people bailed out on me for STUPID stuff, and I'm like....GET ON MY LEVEL, THEN QUIT! The world would collapse! Be President of The Unites States of America and then quit cause, "I just can't committ like I did before..." You'd flee the country!
This ain't poetry or a nursery rhyme or rap, this is grown black man talk! Paul knew exactly why he did what he was doing, I know why I'm doing what I'm doing, when will you know what you're suppose to be doing.
I say this in love cause you know who I'm talking about. If it offended you. Good. I didn't mean to miss you sir or ma'am!
Peace & Love
Jesse DeMonte Andrews

Summer & Fall 2010 Pt. 2

Dr. Eyles and Dr. Vivian Brown are the acknowledgment for this post. They dared to be different and to enrich the lives of so many Morehouse College students in their aspirations to be Well Traveled. It was this idea stated by our dynamic president, Dr. Robert M. Franklin, that started me to thinking about being internationally competent. I began planning for my trip to Grenoble, France, where I would be taking classes in Mathematics and French. Leaning about the culture and engaging on the international frontier. What a wonderful opportunity. However, I did not have the personal finance to pay for it. So I raised the money for two years.
First, I needed a passport. I ran into Mrs. Gwen Wade, Study Abroad Director at Morehouse College. To see if there was funding available from the college to fund my trip. She ensured me that there was funding available through a foundation called the Gilman Foundation, in which she was a board member and representative for the college. You know what? I wrote a letter explaining everything, I will copy it in this post. But I will say some life learned lessons from this:
Trust Paper. All of this would have been justified correctly if and only if Mrs. Wade signed a statement. Always have a paper trail. I had emails to prove her response, "I know nothing about this." Was a lie.
Sometimes You Will Hate God. God is in control of everything at all times. But this doesn't mean you won't feel the effects of His control. I was broken during this experience and went into a deep depression. I cried on the TGV! Didn't even get to enjoy that I was going 300mph. I prayed that my plane would crash over the Atlantic Ocean. I said, "Lord, don't let this plane land, crash it now!" I was serious.
You will bounce back. This experience helped me learn true forgiveness. I went back to her a year later. Yes, it took me a while. To tell her I forgave her. Ha! I remember I wanted to know what kind of car she was driving so that I  could bust her windows and key it real good. But I bounced back. I traveled extensively around the country and did top tier research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, Clark Atlanta University and a host of other terrific achievements, started a business that helps support a non profit that supports educational endeavors of college students and local youth.
God Will Take Care of You. I was evicted from my apartment and didn't have the financial support to even buy food. But God...(I'm having a praise break right now) Excuse me...
Here is the letter I sent to the President and their response was yes we can do that, then they said no in a follow up email after I thanked them. HBCU's are amazing.

"It was in January of this year that I had approached Mrs. Gwen Wade, Director of Study Abroad, concerning funding for Tour De Math Program. I was told by students who have studied abroad previously about the foundation called the Benjamin Gilman and went to Mrs. Wade for conformational advice on the scholarship. Her response was that day and the days leading up to the trip, “You should apply and encourage others to apply everybody gets it.” It was with this response that I advocated for The Gilman Scholarship to students who applied to other programs as well as mine. The Morehouse Pan African Global Experience Program (MPAGE), Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participants (LSAMP) and The Tour De Math Program. With that phrase in mind, encouraging others to apply because we were going to receive the scholarship. There were times when I sat in her office for hours to inquire about the scholarship to be sure this was legitimate, and the response was, “I sit on the selection committee, not for Morehouse, but I’m sure you’ll get it.”  The only thing stopping me from going on my trip was a passport to leave the country. With the sponsorship of the Division of Science and Mathematics at Morehouse College this was accomplished. There are numerous witnesses who are faculty and students who can attest to those statements made by Mrs. Gwen Wade and these names will be attached to this letter. It was in April that the deadline for internships and scholarships would be announced. It was close to the 15 of April and I was nervous concerning the Gilman Scholarship, I called and they told me that they had pushed the deadline a month later to May 15. I asked how students would be able to pay for their programs if their programs started on the 15 of May, I was told to upfront money to pay for it and reimburse the upfront money with the scholarship when I received it. I immediately sought Mrs. Wade on the issue because I did not have adequate funds to do so. She said, “Yes I know about the date change, and don’t worry about it, you’ll be fine.” Then I explained the internship offers that I had received if the scholarship was not going to work and I received the same answer. So I thought it was only right to deny my internship opportunities.

My plane ticket was bought early because Dan Cathy had personally wrote a check for my trip and to ensure that the money was spent on my plane ticket, Dr. Eyles made it convenient to spend only 1,000 dollars on my plane ticket by booking early. Dr. Eyles only booked the ticket when he was sure I was going to receive the funding for my trip.

I had went to France as was planned and told to Mrs. Wade. I had arrived on the 15^th of May and received the list of students who were funded from the Gilman Scholarship on the 18^th. I confronted Mrs. Wade concerning the list because no student from Morehouse received a scholarship from the Gilman Scholarship Foundation and was told, “It was not guaranteed source.” With no money, I am thankful for Dr. Eyles helping me make the swift transition back to the States, however, I had experienced a emotional breakdown that I am still recovering from.

There are many ways this situation should have been handled, Morehouse could be sued by request of my parents for the cost of the rest of my tenure at Morehouse College, Mrs. Wade could be fired, I could’ve been found dead somewhere in France. Unfortunately, through all this I lost everything I possessed, my apartment, my belongings due to eviction, and my dignity. With the strong love I have for Morehouse, I would be honored to say I brought this upon myself; however, this seems not to be the case.

My family and I have sat down and talked this issue over for the last month and I thought it would be only right to address this issue when the other students from the trip had returned so that they would not be disturbed by this problem. " -June 15, 2011