On Monday 17th March, Hillian Laura Chapel (Latimer 2014-21) returned to the Hill to speak to the Sixth Form about her career journey since leaving school.
After graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in Marine Biology, Laura has been on a fascinating career path that has taken her across the globe, working with marine life in some of our most biodiverse environments.
Beginning her journey with The Red Sea Project in September 2022, Laura then became a volunteer in Egypt where she had the rare opportunity to study turtles, sea cows and other marine species in their natural habitats. In addition to these early experiences, Laura continued to broaden her horizons in the Azores, on a trip to Faial Island as part of her university course. Here, she took part in scientific research on Terns, as well as a microplastic concentration study.
In 2024, having completed her degree, Laura interned with the Indo Ocean Project in Indonesia, where she honed her diving skills and earned both her rescue and dive master certifications. She described the internship as "the best experience of my life so far!”
During her time on Nusa Penida, Laura participated in coral planting, educated local students about marine life, and encountered majestic Manta Rays. The internship even inspired her to complete a diving Instructor Development Course (IDC) in Gili Trawangan.
Reflecting on her time at Kingham Hill, Laura highlighted how her passion for sport and the ability to explore different career options shaped her university journey. "I changed my mind a lot when making university choices. Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out," she advised. "I actually changed my course from Zoology to Marine Biology once I had started university."
She also spoke about the differences between school and university life, noting that while university offers more freedom, it also brings greater responsibility. Laura encouraged pupils to take full advantage of the close-knit community at Kingham, where staff-to-pupil ratios are smaller, and personalised career advice is more accessible. “Lecturers and tutors won’t care about you as much as they do here. Make use of all the conversations and career advice that you can get at Kingham,” she encouraged.
Laura’s experiences so far have taken her to fascinating locations. Next month she will begin her first paid job as a conservation intern on the island of Mustique, off the coast of Barbados. There, she will be involved in vital work, collecting data on coral bleaching, sharks, whales, and nesting turtles.
"I have so many things I want to do," Laura shared with the Sixth Form, adding that sometimes the most rewarding experiences come from stepping outside your comfort zone. “You need to do the scariest thing. I was terrified of becoming a scuba dive instructor, but I did it anyway,” she said.
In her parting advice to the pupils, Laura stressed the importance of taking things one step at a time and embracing opportunities that arise. "Stop panicking. It will work out. You don’t need to have all the answers right now, just take it one step at a time. Saying yes to one thing leads to other things,” she said, reflecting on how her career has unfolded in unexpected but exciting ways.
Laura’s passion for marine biology and her commitment to exploring the natural world inspired many of the Sixth Form. As Mrs. Berkeley commented, “It’s truly inspiring to hear you speak and see how many opportunities you’ve said yes to.”
Laura's adventures can be followed on Instagram @laura_the_marine_explorer.
