Countdown to the Future

School is approaching at a rapid rate and I am still in the process of preparing for the future. I am currently going into my third year of the Biology program which is by far in my mind the most important year. This is the year that all biologists must once and for all determine a field of specialization and propose a thesis, the pinnacle moment. This scares me... a lot. I definately know what I do not want to do, but to narrow it down to one specific thing is a problem for someone who loves all aspects of science. Over the summer I was able to take a class on the study of the human sensory systems; Vison, Audition, Gustation, Nociception, Vestibular, etc. I Loved it! The brain is such a complex yet amazing tissue centre and through this class I definately opened up the possibility of working towards a career in Neuroscience in my mind. It was because of this that I decided to check out Nipissing's Neuroscience lab to get a feel for the field and see what it is all about. Visiting Dr. Weeks lab let me see the process of studying a synapse. Through this connection I was able to see a live decap which was an unforgetable moment in my life. Watching the subject being sacrificed for scientific research was one of those moments where you know you should look away yet you cannot take your eyes off it. Coming from a medical oriented family I have no problem with blood or disections which I am thankful for. I got a good feel for one of the aspects of Neuroscience which allowed me to consider more indepth if this is the field of specialization for me. My other option I should mention is Ecology. I have always loved nature from spending my summers living deep in the forests of Northern Ontario at Silver Queen Lake so it was no surprise that I enjoyed the concepts and work in Ecology. But it is because of this love that I am in a situation of unrest. I know that with whatever choice I can always go work towards the other in the future, but being the person I am, it pains me to not take full advantage of any opportunities towards the perfect career. If I went into Neuroscience I think I would focus on studying the visual system or possibly audition. As well with Ecology, nothing would make me more happier then living in Bodø Norway and working to keep the forest and marine life safe from human corruption. I definately have a lot of soul searching to do. In any case, this year will definately be the most memorable yet and I cannot wait for it to begin!