My reasoning

This is something I've been thinking about quite a bit recently, in a reflective way, because I often wonder how my life would have been if I had made different choices. This isn't because I wish I'd made those choices, it's just that I've realised that seemingly small decisions can have much larger effects. Thankfully for me, everything has worked out pretty much how I want it so far.

Anyway, this brings me to the reasoning behind what was probably the biggest decision of my life so far. My choice of University course (and of course, University.) Throughout my last 4 years at school, I'd been torn between two great loves, academically. Language, and science. My A levels were an even split between the two, and both fascinated me. I'd also been assured I would be capable of both at degree level, yet both were so different I HAD to choose between the two.

A great, great deal of thought went into that decision. Months and months and months. It had been in my subconscious for longer, that someday I'd have to make that choice, but in sixth form it suddenly all seemed so much more real and immediate. I found it incredibly difficult, even considered taking a gap year to give me some time to think about it.

And then, in July of the summer between lower and upper sixth, I had my epiphany, so to speak. I made my decision. I realized that, I want to learn. And I want to learn a lot. And once I'd learnt the skill of the language, I wasn't sure how much there would be to learn. But the beauty of science is, you have the opportunity to learn things nobody has ever made before. You can do your own research and, if successful, you can discover something totally new. I felt that, through science, I could be a more beneficial person. I could do medical research, or conservation work, or something, that could leave my mark. I couldn't do that as a linguist.

So I guess the reason I chose what I did was in the hope of getting that rare, almost impossible opportunity. Hopefully, (however unlikely it may be) my knowledge can make a difference one day.

Angler Fish

I've always had an interest in marine life. In particular, I like the unusual, elegant, and often dangerous predators of the sea. Sharks are a particular fascination for me, as you will no doubt discover, but lately I've developed an interest in the beasts lurking in the darkest depths of the ocean.

Angler fish, the ones with the big teeth and the lights on their head. They don't look as if they could be real, and yet they are, living in the darkest depths of the oceans. Their mating system is particularly odd-the male exists as almost a parasite of the female. The male is tiny, the big teeth and light being found only on the females, and clings to the underside of the female as a tiny, feeble version of herself. It atrophies away, become even more tiny and feeble, until its body consists of little more than it's gonads. Once it impregnates her, it dies.

It's a sad life. And an odd concept to imagine. When these fish were first discovered, very little was known about them, and it was first thought that the male was in fact a different species, a parasite on the female.

Here's a great cartoon, illustrating the point:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/angler

Introduction

Hi! Welcome to my blog. I'm a Biology student, age 19, with an interest in writing. As well as science I love drama, and I find languages fascinating. I really like nature and being outdoors and have a particular interest in animals (You'll notice this as I post more things...)
I like travelling, although I haven't really had the opportunity (or the cash) to visit very many places, and take an interest in different regions of the world and their cultures. Basically, I'm into a lot of stuff. I read a LOT and hopefully I can give you something good to read to while away your time.