I digress (Wow, we truly are back to normal proceedings.) But yes my 1st semester of my second year back here in home sweet Hull has begun and I'm thoroughly enjoying my new modules thus far, they are actually something that I want to chase in my life. As promised though, this will be in list format and in that list it's time to outline some goals, and a quick review of all the goals I put up in my first blog about university life last year. Drum roll please...
The Magical, Mystical list of Rebecca's goals this year!
Numero Uno - Firsts All Round.Yes, I am still chasing my goals to come out of my degree with first class honours, I've had the warnings from my peers that I'm going to burn out this year. And yet again, I will choose to disregard them, sorry guys, I know you say it in kindness. First year taught me a lot about myself and the way I operate, I know that I can push myself to almost (almost being the key word here.) to breaking point and still come out of the other side. In fact, I have no fear in ending every day exhausted but having achieved something because I know how worth it it will be. I also have something now that I didn't exactly have in the beginning of last year and that's an absolutely fantastic team of course mates who are as driven as I am, And I genuinely don't give them enough credit for how amazing they are. So guys, this one's for you. *raises mug of tea*
Numero Dos - Stumpy.
Those who know me well enough, and one customer in Gran Canaria who allowed me to witter on about one thing that I am truly and utterly passionate about (Thanks Jacqueline!) And that's Stumpy the Orca. To put it in very brief terms, Stumpy is an Orca located in the Norwegian Fjords. Researchers can only but guess that she was involved in a collision involving some form a speed boat. This has caused him to lose most of her dorsal fin and immense damage to her back. This, as you can imagine folks, is severely debilitating for an organism that has to eat such an immense amount of food to survive, and travel massive distances in their lifetime. Things weren't looking great for this young Orca. However, he has been seen with no less than 5 other orca pods. And wait for it, the coolest thing is every pod knows how to look after Stumpy in some way, whether it's stunning fish and bringing it too him, or half eating a fish and giving it to Stumpy. This altruistic behaviour is rarely seen anywhere else in the Animal Kingdom, especially by other pods or families of the same species. Within a module of 2nd year and I am able to write an essay on any form of any behaviour that interests me.
This is it.
Numero Tres - Looking Ahead.
To follow on nicely from my last point. I have been thinking one hell of a lot lately what I would like to study for my masters degree and then hopefully for PhD. And that's Animal behaviour and looking more in depth at stumpy's case study and case studies of other Orcas with a similar issue, And hopefully go on to to looking at more of a reason as to why this occurs. I have a few theories form the research I've been doing but I have a few people I need to run this past first.... slight problem of having to survive my degree first and then get funding... yep.
Numero Quatro - Dive into it
Ha, can you see what I did there. Ah, okay, I'll sit here smiling silently to myself. But I'm currently ready and waiting to begin my volunteer post as a Dive Master with my local dive shop, and I can't wait. The BCD has been dry for too long and I need to get back to being used to wearing a dry suit, plus I just have a natural yearning now for diving. I basically just need to grow gills, this is the level we have reached ladies and gents.
I believe these are my key goals for this academic year, and well, academic life. Plus I'm struggling to recall all the spanish numbers to make my points with, whoops. But I've decided not to create a list of goals as long as my arm this year. I achieved what I wanted to do last year and that's get my 1st in first year and by hell or high water, I'm going to do it again this year. That's very simply my one goal and I have to keep that central to everything right now. For the sake of Stumpy! Kinda... That's just what I keep telling myself anyway.
Fin.
