Acts of Bravery
Week #5
Huge bundles of sea grass sway back and forth with every swell that enters the cove. It’s like I’m in a different world – no talking, no cell phones, no computers, and completely void of noise except for the constant snapping that comes from biting shrimp. Although the Garibaldi, a brilliant orange, medium sized fish that happens to be the state fish of California, definitely catches my eye, for some reason the immense amount of sea floor foliage is the most enticing part of my first-time snorkeling experience. I watch a blue shark effortlessly glide ten feet below the surface which seems oddly normal – I don’t scream, am not at all scared and just go on kicking my flipper laden feet. All that grass however, puts a unbreakable trance on me – the way it doesn’t get flustered or break apart with every incoming wave and it’s simple abundance is so… natural.
Even more dangerous and much more nerve racking than my shark encounter is the fact that I am going to give a group talk this coming Wednesday. While public speaking is most definitely not one of my strengths, doing so in front of a group of 20 or so post docs and graduate students is going to be even more excruciating than usual. Not that there even is a usual – I avoid giving speeches and presentations in front of any audience at practically all costs – but if there was, this would be the ultimate challenge. Don’t get me wrong, when this opportunity was offered to me, I jumped at the chance to face one of my greatest fears and show the lab what all I’ve been working on the previous five weeks. The only way to get better at something is though practice; I figured this would be a good way to prepare for what lies ahead.
As my time here comes to a close, I realize that this is only a glimpse into the future. Not the stellar San Diego weather or even the computational science I’ve been privileged to be a part of may appear again in my life but I’m beginning to understand that going with the flow is the best way to live. Yes, the independence is great and I’m really going to miss the people I’ve met and places I’ve been but going home is what’s going to happen. Instead of focusing on not wanting to leave, excitement about seeing much of my immediate and extended family again is starting to permeate my mind. This has been all I’ve asked for and so much more but the time has come to go on. College will arrive in less than a year but until then, I’m glad to bask in dependence for one of the last times.
Huge bundles of sea grass sway back and forth with every swell that enters the cove. It’s like I’m in a different world – no talking, no cell phones, no computers, and completely void of noise except for the constant snapping that comes from biting shrimp. Although the Garibaldi, a brilliant orange, medium sized fish that happens to be the state fish of California, definitely catches my eye, for some reason the immense amount of sea floor foliage is the most enticing part of my first-time snorkeling experience. I watch a blue shark effortlessly glide ten feet below the surface which seems oddly normal – I don’t scream, am not at all scared and just go on kicking my flipper laden feet. All that grass however, puts a unbreakable trance on me – the way it doesn’t get flustered or break apart with every incoming wave and it’s simple abundance is so… natural.
Even more dangerous and much more nerve racking than my shark encounter is the fact that I am going to give a group talk this coming Wednesday. While public speaking is most definitely not one of my strengths, doing so in front of a group of 20 or so post docs and graduate students is going to be even more excruciating than usual. Not that there even is a usual – I avoid giving speeches and presentations in front of any audience at practically all costs – but if there was, this would be the ultimate challenge. Don’t get me wrong, when this opportunity was offered to me, I jumped at the chance to face one of my greatest fears and show the lab what all I’ve been working on the previous five weeks. The only way to get better at something is though practice; I figured this would be a good way to prepare for what lies ahead.
As my time here comes to a close, I realize that this is only a glimpse into the future. Not the stellar San Diego weather or even the computational science I’ve been privileged to be a part of may appear again in my life but I’m beginning to understand that going with the flow is the best way to live. Yes, the independence is great and I’m really going to miss the people I’ve met and places I’ve been but going home is what’s going to happen. Instead of focusing on not wanting to leave, excitement about seeing much of my immediate and extended family again is starting to permeate my mind. This has been all I’ve asked for and so much more but the time has come to go on. College will arrive in less than a year but until then, I’m glad to bask in dependence for one of the last times.
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Comment by Rommie Amaro on July 26, 2008 at 11:27pm - You are as amazing as you are brave... I will never believe how calm you were when the 7-ft long shark swam stealthily beneath us. Sharks, groups talks, college - they are no match for you. Lookout world!
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