Over the last two weeks, I wrote a lab final (parasitology) and three papers (one zoogeography; two parasitology). A total of a lot of stress (lab final) and a lot of research (7, 1 and 10 for the total number of references that I used for my papers) and several thousand words typed in 12-point words, double-spaced with full citations.

My 3 topics of choice for my papers:

1. Ursus maritimus (polar bear) and Ursus arctos (brown bear) and their sister species relationship (evolution, phylogeography) – 25% of my grade.
2. Schistosoma mansoni and influences on a mollusc intermediate host – potentially 27.5% of my grade.
3. Trophically transmitted parasites and the methods of transmission – potentially 27.5% of my grade.

I have a week off between end of lectures and the beginning of finals. Whoot… I’m so incredibly excited for studying, haha. I’m spending all next week (at least, Monday to Friday) at school. Got a whole study schedule planned. I have a paper to write as a final for parasitology. More writing about all the gross things that you can get from drinking water and cuisine?! Yay! I didn’t really how much I’d like parasitology until after having taking the course. It’s fascinating what’s in our food and we don’t even realize. Or what kind of normal ‘hosts’ that the nastier parasites have. So cool to learn about the world still.

And with that, I’ll be online minimally (sort of) until I’m done with finals… Until then, have a lovely December!

It’s coming down to the last 2 weeks of school (classes end on December 2nd for me) so that it is crunch time! All of my midterms are thankfully done (I have a friend who has a midterm the last week of classes, ew) and I’ve just been working away on research for a few more papers (I have two drafts done and I’m waiting for a professor to review one of them – I have another paper that I have yet to write, but I think I’ve finished all of my research for it). Besides that, I also have a lab final to study for (boo) and 3 finals to start to study for. I’m taking four classes, but one of my classes (Parasitology) has a take home final. I’ve never been able to grasp the brilliance of this concept because generally science courses do not have take home/open book finals. We get two full weeks to work on the final ‘exam’, we’re encouraged to use the textbook and we’re allowed to work in groups, ask the professor questions… Brilliant, absolutely. I just hope he’s making us do incredibly difficult essays as I know it’s supposed to be long-answer type of questions.

So I’m going to be doing a lot of studying… Starting soon. I need to get that last paper written (and then editing the other two) before I feel like I can “really” study (except for my lab final – I need to study for my lab final because that is important as well, even if it’s not worth a whole lot).

I feel like it’s important to note that today was Election Day in British Columbia. All of the municipal elections in the province happen on the same day – we elect for the mayors, city councillors, school trustees and whatnot. I did not head out to the polls today (although my other family members did). I feel bad about this because I almost always go to vote when there’s an election. I had to go out a little bit after lunch to the bank and when I was walking up my driveway to get back into the house, I slipped and fell flat on my back. My driveway is black and there was ice on the driveway that hadn’t melted yet (it was in the shadows casted by the bushes). So I slipped and fell. I’m sure if there were witnesses, they would have told me that my fall was spectacular (it sure felt that way, anyways). But that really isn’t the point. I managed to get back up on my feet and stiffly walked up the steps to get back into the house. I’ve remained indoors for the rest of the day because my lower back is sore. I’ve also been limiting my walking around, because movement is bad (heh). I normally bruise very easily but no (visible) bruising as of yet. There’s also no swelling, I just hurt.

Life happens, I guess.  Here’s to the next four weeks! My last final is on December 16th (Friday), meep.

During elementary school, I learned little skills that I didn’t realize were all that important at the time. I learned how to safely use scissors. I learned where glue should (and should not) go. I learned how to share and how to be a friend, how to play a recorder, how to do basic mathematics and that I’m really bad at sports. I learned how to fall and how to get up again and I learned that no matter what, I cannot properly do monkey bars.

In middle school, I learned that some people feel that there are more important things than friendship (such as popularity, or clothing labels). I learned how to sing (choir, I was a soprano), play the clarinet. I learned about cliques and getting to classes on time. I learned about bullies the hard way. I learned how easy it was hide an eating disorder because when you make yourself invisible – no one really notices you at all. I developed hobbies during this time that still stick with me (blogging, writing, jewellery making). I figured out some things that I hated about myself.

And then there was high school, where I learned some time management skills. I learned how horrible I am at math. I developed a love for science, mostly biology. I learned how to voice my opinion to people in positions of authority (teachers, primarily). I developed friendships with teachers, at least one of which is still ongoing. I developed better friendships than I ever did in elementary school, ones that even lasted after graduation. I learned what real friends were like and I got most of my hormones in check before doing stupid things.

And now, with university, I learned a lot of things. I learned what it was like to fail. I learned what it was like to pass with flying colours. I learned what love was and how to let myself be loved. I learned how to make mistakes and how to fix them. I learned much better study habits than I ever had before. I learned how to form study groups, make useful notes and how to talk to professors without sounding like I know absolutely nothing. I learned how lasting friendships don’t always last and that some friendships just don’t last after high school. I learned how to laugh and how to let myself cry. I learned what it was like to have another living thing dependent on me for survival (my pets). I learned what I really love to study and I really don’t like. I learned more about myself since graduating high school than I ever did in the years before. I learned how to be happier with myself, and with others. I learned to take things with a grain of salt.

But most importantly, I learned to love myself and those that I hold closest to my heart. ♥