Let's start with the seed of an idea

I’m having one of those moments where I don’t think I want to be doing this degree anymore

But I’m over 3/4 of the way there so it would be stupid to stop now.

How I felt when I went a semester without doing any English courses

Finished with my philosophy major!

And I did it in style, with an essay on why paternalists can gtfo of my reproductive choices.

I am not such a failure at biology as I thought I was yesterday!

I got three A+ assignments back today! (In case you’re interested, these were a lab about reproductive behaviour in birds, a field trip report about gannet behaviour, and an essay about the evolution of eusociality)

I think I might change my BSc major.

At the moment it’s ecology, which I enjoy, and it’s mainly bio courses. If I switch to a bio major, I’ll have more choice at Stage III, but I’ll have to do another Stage I bio course. Hmmmm.

Remember how I’m doing a Theology course for my gen ed?

For our essay, one of the possible topics is writing about contemporary messiah figures.

I thought I might write on Angel from Rent.She’s kind of a messiah in some ways, right?

(I really wanted to write on The Book of Mormon, but it didn’t seem to fit in with any of the essay questions, much as I’d love to quote “Hasa Diga Eebowai” in an assignment)

I think typing out this phylogeny assignment is one of the more pointless endeavours of my academic career thus far

(probably coming second only to cut-and-paste art projects in primary school)

When my friends in other majors ask why my timetable is so full

whatshouldbiologycallme:

I have an essay plan done now!

Just put my name down to be a volunteer research assistant.

So I might be doing something exciting with my summer after all (seeing as I’m totally unqualified for any of the paid studentships). That is, if any PhD students actually want my help!

Our lecturer for biomechanics mostly studies bats

So naturally, my knowledge colleagues and I must refer to him as Batman.

I don’t think he’d mind.

I’m not sure whether or not I told you guys about my very stressful genetics lab

But I got an A. Cs might get degrees, but As get hoorays! Also, the class average was just on a B+, so I’m feeling ahead of the curve.

A humourous anecdote

Today in our Applied Ethics lecture, we were discussing whether or not there is a morally significant difference between killing someone and letting them die.  An important point that was made was that sometimes killing somebody is preferable to just letting someone die (for example, it is probably better to euthanize someone who is really old and sick, with no quality of life, than it is to just let someone die who just happens to be choking on whatever it is they’re eating).

Following this, Caitlin and I were enjoying our vegetarian curry when the guy sitting just across from us started to cough violently. This carried on for a few seconds, and he acquired a level of purpleness that was rather alarming.  We were unsure of exactly what we ought to do, given that we are not first aid experts.  Luckily, the guy sitting on our other side gave him some water, which seemed to help.

We were somewhat suspicious that the coughing guy was a test set up by our lecturer, to see whether we are able to actually apply the ethical concepts we discuss. She seems as though she might do sneaky things like that. 

(we don’t really think that)

(Wai, this was the story I was telling you at the crossing)

EDIT:

Rereading this in the morning, I can’t think for the life of me why I would label this as “humourous”.  It isn’t. The only humourous thing was our discussion as to whether ethics lecturers could set up real-life tests for us.  That might be humourous.  That guy coughing was not funny at all. (To assuage my guilt, I am reminding myself that I probably wouldn’t have been able to help at all, given that I didn’t have any water on my person, and by the time I had got back if I had gone to get some he would have been all right again.  Whacking someone on the back only works if they’re choking, which this person wasn’t.  If he were, water would have made him worse (this was one of the reasons I was unsure of how to help) Does that make me a terrible person?)