Life's too short... Travel the World!

Life's too short... Travel the World!: April 2012

Thursday 26 April 2012

A year with the RLS

So tomorrow is my very last day as a member of the Brock University Residence Life Staff, and I can honestly say that it has been one of the greatest experiences of my life so far. At times I've loved it, at times I've hated it, but it really has changed me as a person, and I'm really excited to see what this new person goes on to do, and who he goes on to help.

Though in some aspects I don't feel ready to leave the RLS (70 close friends and family that all live within 2 kms of each other), but I do feel that I am ready to move on to what I have to do next. I've always loved the quote "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." So that's exactly what I'm going to do. I've made some great friends, and even though I'm leaving for a year, I'm dead sure they'll be waiting for me when I get back - at least the ones who haven't had to graduate and get real jobs yet!

Today I booked my flight - I'm leaving on July the 3rd, connecting through Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Sydney! It was a cheap fare, so I grabbed it, despite it having a lot of layover time, and arriving in Perth later than I'd hoped. Beyond excited and stressed for planning this!

I'm gonna leave you with this video that's really fitting for the end of the term - done second year and done the RLS; sad that they're over, glad that they happened.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Proud Father Flamingo

I don't know why it's hitting me tonight, but the year is coming to a close, and tomorrow I say goodbye to my first flamingo. In case anybody doesn't know, I am currently (for a week more) a don of residence, also known as a CA, RA, or what-ever-else-you-can-call-it. I look after a community of approximately 36 students known as the Holmes Flamingoes.


When I first got assigned the role of the flamingoes, I didn't really want them, because I thought the mascot was girly, and wouldn't be as bad-ass as I wanted; boy was I wrong. These flamingoes have proven me wrong time and time again, coming out to events, being respectful to one another, representing the house, and doing a lot of crazy other stuff that I'm not even going to go into...

It's definitely been one of the best experiences of my life; Brock University RLS. You have two families working as a don - your students (the Holmes Flamingoes) and the other dons. The memories, and friends I've made are indescribable, and I recommend the experience highly to everyone. 

To the Flamingoes: thank you for making this year so awesome. We might have had our differences at times, and there have been some times where I've had to enforce the ungodly amount of noise coming from the 4th floor, but I will always remember you guys as the most bad-ass, awesomely cool, crazy-sweet, all-around-great house in DeCew; you're call yourselves badgers, but you're definitely flamingoes. 

Thursday 12 April 2012

Accepted!

Today I received my official acceptance from Curtin Uni for a 2012-2013 exchange program, and I couldn't be more ecstatic.

I've been walking around today listening to this song, and just imagining that in 3 months today, I'll be in Perth; insane.



Anyways, I've got an insane amount of work in front of me in the next few days. I've got three of my toughest exams coming up (Cellular Biology, Biostatistics, and Research Methods in Health). They are all crammed into Friday, Saturday, and Monday, so I'm gonna have a lot of fun with this. In addition to these exams, I've also got two more coming up - they're dead easy though (anatomy and physiology come to me naturally for some strange reason...).

In terms of the exchange, I've got to get all the courses I would like to take approved in the next few weeks, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with that. I have to get them approved in two places (Curtin, and Brock). So far I have got Brock to approve some biochemistry courses for me, so it's a start.

I've also been sent into a bit of a panic, as my academic advisor said that I need to start worrying about my thesis (since I'll be gone for my third year). That means I have to find a professor to supervise me, find a topic, and basically prove to the professor that I'm not an idiot... I'll let you know how that goes.

I just need to keep reminding myself why I'm doing all of this - to be a coroner/medical examiner/doctor with specialization in aerospace medicine - hey, you gotta aim high.


Saturday 7 April 2012

Why are you being childish?

My home university runs a campaign called "Both sides of the brain". It's a whole part of their brand-standards toolkit, but the main purpose of the ad is to show potential students that you're not only able to develop your academics, but your other interests, extra-curricular's, and other parts of you that define yourself. I wanted to take a second to share the other side of my brain.

The other side of my brain is the brain I developed as a child. Children have limitless potential for creativity, imagination, innovation and leadership, and I truly believe the world would be a better place if we were all a little childish. To be free from the binds and constrains of adulthood is something that most of us experience once, but few hold on to. We have responsibilities that we cannot ignore, however I feel that by being a little childish, it opens up my mind to pursue new possibilities, to not be afraid to fail, to look foolish or to care what others think. 

Stand up for the little guy, think without boundaries, be who you are, say what you feel, inspire others, and find inspiration to do things that others say you cannot do. Life is too short for you to not take a chance to be yourself. 


Friday 6 April 2012

My Education

I'm not sure why I feel obligated to say this, but I feel somewhat frustrated with the education I am receiving.

I'm not really sure what it is, but some of the professors I have at university are fantastic, others are not so much. It has nothing to do with a professor's intelligence, or how thick their accent can be, but it has to do with whether or not they actually take pride in what they are teaching.

Here's the simple truth:
If you don't like what you're teaching, neither will I.

I wish some professors understood that and I wish we were tested on grounds to explore our creativity, our problem-solving, innovation and our ingenuity; but that is an education that I can only dream of.

Don't get me wrong, I love my school and I love my classes, but there are just some people who make me loose interest in a previously interesting subject just because of how they like to teach the class.

Education is more than learning facts on a page, it's about gaining real life experience, trying out new things, not being afraid to fail, and most of all growing as a person. This is probably the main reason I am going abroad - because there are some things you cannot learn in a classroom.

Monday 2 April 2012

Mondays in Canada

I have an insane amount of work to do this week.

In addition to searching for approval for courses I would like to take in Aus, I also have a quiz today, a presentation and essay due tomorrow, and a lab exam on Thursday. The lab exam wouldn't be that bad if it weren't for memorizing all the bones and muscles in the human body.

But you know what? All is well in the world, because even when I'm feeling the most down, the most stressed, or without any energy, I just remember that I am a young scientist.

Science has almost become a faith for me at this point. I place my faith in science before any religion, and in turn science rewards me by satisfying my curiosity. There are many different types in which I am able to explore, theoretical physics, quantum chemistry, molecular biology or astronomy. Once you realize the beauty that is in each of them, you don't really look at the world the same way anymore. I've had several epiphanies over the course of my academic career - one of the biggest being the electron transport chain and the chemical need for oxygen - but another to look at us as organisms defying entropy by using energy.

While many people find comfort in the belief that there is some other place for our loved ones, I find comfort in the fact that our loved ones had the opportunity to inspire us, and change us in ways that we might not understand. Though they are not here anymore, the human brain allows them to live on, mimic their personality traits, and have memories that stay with us for a lifetime.

Anyways, with that I have to go back to studying, and head over to the university travel agency to find out what is going on.

I'll leave you with this video, which has been one of my favourites now, the same as Carl Sagan's the Pale Blue Dot.