Second Year Review 1

Second year started off not very interesting. Glad that I've only got 3 subjects. The first zoology prac has already drained my energy away when I heard about the insect collection. This semester zoology focused on entomology (insects) and ecology, and surprisingly they were so much more complicated than I thought. Although the pracs are very simple compared to those carried out in the lab, but when it comes to report writing, it is the most confusing report that one can ever write. Plus, the two lecturers aren't very helpful when students posted up some questions onto the website. :( So it's complicated theory, not too nice people, but simple pracs.

Up next, biochemistry. After spending 3 months with this subject, I have no doubt about the capabilities of La Trobe in producing excellent biochemists for research. The subject coordinator managed to incorporate all the skills needed to be a scientist. Knowledge, report writing, teamwork, lab techniques, prac exercises etc, the lecturers and demonstrators did put in a lot of effort and time to help us. For this, it's interesting theory, very good people, but hard pracs.

Last but not least, animal health. This is an agricultural science subject. Eventhough there is no chicken raising project like last year, but this subject is a lot more interesting and attracts me more. It's about diagnosing an illness in domestic animals, zoonotic diseases, microbiology, immunology, vaccines and parasitology. Basically, the fundamental things a vet needs to know. The pracs are awesome. We played with sheep poop! :) Lol. Yes, we need to detect the worm eggs in sheep faeces. How fun is that! Furthermore, I love the lecturers. Besides presenting their lectures excellently, they are also super helpful and friendly in answering our help. The people in agricultural science building are sooo nice! I still remember how helpful the demonstrators were in helping our chicken report last year. :D Overall for this subject, awesome theory, awesome people and awesome pracs!!

So far, I've kind of narrowed down the things that I might want to deal with for the next few decades of my life. For the next semester, I'm still doing zoology but not ecology or insects anymore. Phew... It's called animal physiology, so it's more of the biology of the body. Now I know ecology is not my study interest. However, I'm still keen to volunteer to help the ecologists or conservationists in carrying out their research out in the field (the physical stuff), but I won't do the research myself. The report writing can kill me. x.x

My interest still remain in the vet field. I want to be involved in the animal health industry. Creating vaccines, controlling zoonotic diseases, studying parasites, diagnosing sickness or whatever that is related, or might also end up benefiting human health indirectly. :) The field is still wide, but I think I will find out what I'm capable of in the next one and a half year time.

By the way, my options will become more because, besides animal physiology, animal nutrition and medical veterinary microbiology are coming up next semester. Sounds interesting.