Biology

I’m returning home earlier than expected for several reasons. One exciting reason is to get things set up to go back to school – at first at nights and weekends, then full time later on. I am going to go back to school to study biology with an eye towards being a naturalist, primarily. But also I am interested in biomimicry/bionics (which is when you look at nature to make new designs, etc.). I have been so inspired by my time in the outdoors.

I’ve delighted in taking pictures of the different wildflowers and looking at the many insects and animals. I think it would be a very nice way to spend your days walking through fields and woods for a living. I’ve thought a lot about how much it meant to me as a child to go on walks, and how lasting an impression the people who knew all about nature made on me. The excitement I feel, the need to touch the leaves, to inspect the rocks, to observe and interpret the animal behavior – it all reminds me of them. It’s also always been something I’ve felt, but I just didn’t do anything about it. So now I guess is the time.

I had thought before if I went back to school I might go for IT, something that could significantly improve my finances – but NO! I choose biology. Acting and biology – way to go Senta, hope you can find a way to make money somehow. F-ing arts and nature!!! The heart wants what the heart wants – that’s what they say, anyways. At the very least, studying biology will be a chance to learn more about the natural world – which is something I’m only ever going to want to do more of.

I’m sad to leave Denali, I’m sad I didn’t get to finish the park walk. But I would love to come back earlier in the summer some day and do the whole thing. Tonight there was a spectacular sunset - the first real one.

On my way out of Alaska, I MUST visit the glaciers of the Kenai Peninsula – you know, in case they disappear…