Dreams and Aspirations

Last night I posed a question to a few people: "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?" The best answer I got was everything! I chuckled because that makes the most sense realistically. I was asked the question and answered being a professional dancer. I went to sleep and assumed I'd never really think about that question again. I was wrong. I woke up this morning and for some reason it was still lurking on my mind. So I ask myself the question again

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

The answer bubbling within my boyo (my nickname for gut) was different to what I answered last night. This is what I would do:

I would merge my interest and passion - the environment and education (respectively). A lot of what I do is centred around going back to Saint Lucia (eventually) and applying it there. I envision people asking me what I do, and I respond "I am Environmental Education Officer," or something along those lines. My position would be to create educational programming with various businesses and organisations to get children (and the wider community) involved and educated about environmental issues. The children are the future and if they do not possess the mindset necessary to make change we are destined to fail. I would create innovative and exciting activities for various age ranges, use existing environmental groups within the school system and have a nation wide event where students get to be creative and share their experiences while developing skills to help them excel.

I would have such a wide range of activities that a large cross section of children will be reached and a greater impact would be made. For the more academically inclined students a debating competition with environmental topics that are centred around our environmental issues - the effects of climate change on our small island developing state, coral reefs, deforestation and loss of biodiversity to name a few. These topics will not only be strictly environmentally based, but will encompass other areas relevant to our sustenance. Aspects of development, business and industry can and will also be incorporated into the discussions. For the more hands on learners they would be given the opportunity to create and/or design environmentally friendly products or services. Other activities would stem around responsibility, reciprocity, relationship and respect - The Four Rs of Indigenous Cultures. If we can instil these values in our youth then we can restore true national pride.

This is just the tip of the iceberg in regards to what I would do. I get so excited just thinking and talking about this. THIS is what I need to do with my life. I need to find out how I can do it.


Now I pose the question to you "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?" Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading
-The Empress

Where do the fish go?

This was an assignment I had to write for my Environmental Communications course. I figured it would be good to share some of my work with you. Feedback would be greatly appreciated. I have no title for this piece.

Coral reefs are living environments and home to many fishes. According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 67% of fishes moved to healthier coral when their coral home dies. This new coral home is usually close to their original home.

The study tested how long it takes the fishes to move to a healthier spot once the coral dies and how many of them will move.

Three scientists from Australia found that there are three factors that determine whether the fish move. They are the health of the original coral home, whether a new home is available and if that new home has other fishes they can breed with. Competition from other fishes is a big factor that causes the fish not to move.

Corals are very tiny, colourful marine animals. They live close together in colonies and have a hard skeleton made from the same material as seashells.

Fish love happy coral. Hurricanes, changes in the sea temperature and other things like pollution make the coral unhappy. Coral bleaching happens when the unhappy coral move away and leave behind the white skeleton. Coral bleaching does not happen all at once on the whole reef. It happens in patches. The coral never moves back if the conditions remain the same or get worse. When this happens the reef is said to be dead.

Disturbances to coral reefs can happen naturally. Human activities can also cause disturbances to coral reefs.

Human caused disturbances are adding to the effects of natural disturbances. This is threatening the lives of many animals and plants as well as how the environment is working.

The study found that coral bleaching did not affect the fish. They remained at the bleached reef.

Although the fish chose to stay at the bleached reefs, their dark or colourful bodies against the white reef make them easily seen.

A dead reef keeps its structure, but it still does not have everything fish need to live there. When the coral dies another tiny plant called algae moves unto the skeleton and starts growing. This new plant does not support the fish and makes it harder for the fish to find hiding spots from other fish that want to eat it. Once the reef died the fish moved to another reef.

Certain fish rely on certain types of coral colonies. If the fish is to move successfully and live, it needs its preferred coral colony to move along.

While some new fish came from the dead reef to a healthier one, some from the healthy reef left. The total number of fish did not change which means that no fish died because of the death of the reef.

Each school of fish has a hierarchal system. The new fish cause the fish at the bottom of the system to move out.

The presence of other fishes at healthy coral reefs stopped some fishes from moving to a new reef. It’s like a high school cafeteria. The new kid wants somewhere to sit and each his lunch. He tries to find a table which has other people so he doesn’t sit alone. Each table he approaches gives him the look of death so he goes back. It’s the same thing with the fishes.

Fish from the dead reef approach the new reef in the hopes of finding a new home. Fish from the healthy reef chase them away.

The fish from the healthy reef may feel threatened by the new fish, and because of this they chase them away. The new fish may be more aggressive or social dominating. If they are, food, space and mating partners may be affected.

When choosing a new reef fishes look for “good neighbours.” A good neighbour is one which the fish can breed with.

Fish preferred having other fish they could mate with over a healthy reef. Of the 64% of fish that were successful in finding a new reef, all except for 2 chose a reef with good neighbours. Some of the fish travelled far to find a new reef with good neighbours.

Fish choose reefs with good neighbour not only because they can mate with them but for additional protection against predators.

The scientists concluded that an important factor in regards to the movement of fish was the presence of other fish it could mate with. Conversely, competition for food, shelter and mating partners did not hinder the movement of fish. Fish also moved out from dead coral before the structure of it was gone. 

A Moment For Me

I thought I would be able to handle it, but as time creeps up I'm beginning to change my mind.

I thought I could handle seeing all my friends graduate in June and not have my time in the light that season, but as each one is done with assignments and exams it makes me sadder and sadder that I won't truly be able to share in their victory. I can't say to myself, one more exam and this is it! I'm done! No. Instead I have smile to say congratulations and hope that they don't hear the "Lucky *scoff*" under my breath.

It's not that I am resentful of their victory and success. It's not that I didn't put myself where I am. It's just that I don't get to do my victory dance just yet. I don't get my moment of glory where I hug my friends wearing my green gown, holding my flowers and chocolates and other congratulatory gifts.

And yes this is motivation to keep pushing because my time is almost here, just not yet. But it still would have felt great to say "Yes! WE are done" with my friends.

-The Empress.

Expectations

"Expectations lead to Disappointments"

How many times have you heard this saying or a variation of it? I know I've been saying it a lot lately to remind myself of an error I made and hopefully won't make again. I expected that something would be one way instead of going into the situation with an open mind and rolling with the breeze. My high expectations were quite different to what the situation had prepared. I was quite disappointed. And instead of letting go as soon as I found out I still trying to see if I could manipulate the situation to make it as close to what I wanted as possible. My manipulative efforts were in vain. And hence even more disappointment was created.

Don't get me wrong, there are some things that happen in life that we need to have an idea of how we want things to turn out - a job interview, moving to a new city, an exam, that kind of thing. There are others that we need to go with flow whether we're in charge or not. Enjoy the moment and be free. When we try to control everything we end up in trouble or disappointed.


Go forth and be free. Explore life and the joys within it.

-The Empress

Who Inspires You? Part Three

There are people that come into your life for a purpose. When their time is done, they leave. You remember the lessons they taught you and live a better life.

There are other people that are in your life for years. From the day you meet them til the day you die, they remain in your life and are a good source of inspiration among other things to you.

This next inspiration to me has been in and out of my life, due to distance, for some years now. I met her in my first year of high school and ever since we've been friends. Sometimes I really wonder how she deals with me, my mood swings, impulsive behaviour and randomness. A few weeks back I sat with her and a few other people and listened to her speak. When she spoke it was like deja vu. It was so eloquent it reminded me of the our "good ole days."

My friend Gemma Edwin inspires me to be educated, knowledgeable, well versed and open minded. It's amazing the way a conversation between the two of us unfolds. A simple topic such as grocery shopping turns into a three hour conversation on capitalism, organic food, ethics and globalization. It truly is wonderful to have a friend who encourages your own growth and curiosity.

So to Gemma I raise my green bottle and say FIRE ONE!

Thanks for being such an inspiration to me!

-The Empress

YOLO!

Drake came out with this song called The Motto and coined the phrase YOLO - You Only Live Once. Some people get it and some people don't. Those who don't use YOLO as an excuse to do stupid things, unsafe things, plain ol' dotish tings! I want to share my thoughts on YOLO and why and when you should be hollaring YOLO!

1. Exploring and experiencing - YOLO! You only live once so why not travel to that place you've wanted to travel to? Why not try that food you've wanted to, or try something you've always wanted to do? Something as simple as teaching yourself to bake red velvet cupcakes to more complex like doing a complete (or as complete as possible) Asia or Africa tour. You only live once so go for it.
2. Standing up for your rights and getting what you deserve - YOLO! You're in a bad relationship, you hate your job, you live in a bad neighbourhood, you have terrible friends...You only live once so why surround yourself with crap? Give yourself the things you deserve, the things you have the right to have - love, good health, security, comfort, joy, happiness, support. You only live once so take that step and get rid of those toxic friends that tie you down, get rid of that horrible partner that makes you feel like you're less than the roadkill, look for a job that is what you want to do. Don't be crazy and quit your job before you find something else you want to do...no no no. YOLO doesn't mean go about doing things blindly. Plan according and do what you dreamed of doing. The world is your oyster. Gather the pearls (does that even make sense? Anyway!!)

Don't use YOLO as an excuse to do dumb things. YOLO isn't an excuse to be promiscuous, nor is it an excuse to quit instead of fighting. It's not as simple as A B C. No. YOLO does not equal careless, but carefree. Live life to the fullest, enjoying the wonders of the world.

YOLO!

-The Empress

Who Inspires You? Part Two

I recently tweeted "I wish I could give awards to my friends because they are just so amazing."

I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with amazing people. Many of my friends are not just support through trying times, or shoulders for me to lean on. Many of my friends are motivators, inspiration, [good] competition, a source of great knowledge and even wisdom. My friends are people who uplift my spirit in one way or another.

Abdulai Mohamed inspires me. The truth is I have not had a significant number of deep conversations with him (although I am working on that), however, the few that I have had, have left me inspired and motivated to not only dream big and make those dreams a reality.

I love teaching and almost every conversation with Abdulai leaves me wishing I had stayed in the profession. I can't say that I will drop what I'm doing now and return to teaching, but I will say that I will make decisions that change lives for the better. Abdulai continues to remind me that there are good people in the world.

So I raise my glass to you Abdulai and say FIRE ONE! Thanks for being such an inspiration to me!

-The Empress

I've Got A Question!!

This may apply to other Caribbean Islands but I'm going to refer to my country of Saint Lucia for this.

I was having a discussion with a few ladies, one of Spanish heritage and the other from the Dominican Republic. The conversation started with me currently being single and having been single for some time. I said I don't know why no one at Trent, at least, has approached me, but then again I've been told I'm intimidating. Personally I find that hard to believe but hey, I know me. The two ladies then proceeded to say THEY AGREED! When they first met me they were intimidated by me. So of course I had to find out why. They both said I have such a strong and powerful personality and I carry myself well that it can be perceived as something to be intimidated by. We dropped off the first young lady and the conversation continued. Laura, who is in a relationship with a Saint Lucian man, said she had noticed that all the Saint Lucian women at Trent are that way. She also said that her boyfriend said that's how Saint Lucian women are. It had never crossed my mind until then that maybe that IS how Lucian Women are raised - to be strong willed, determined women. Of course there are all exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking, what is your view on the matter?

Do you think that Saint Lucian woman may come across as intimidating to some but are overall strong minded, have a powerful demeanor, and are a bit hardcore? Do share.

Thanks for reading
-The Empress

Who Inspires You? Part One

I should be studying/reading/writing my essay/lab/doing something productive is the general consensus. But nope, I will take maybe 5 minutes, if so long, to tell you who inspire me.

My friend Sarita Louis inspires me. Sometimes (not often, but not seldom, so dead in the middle sometimes) I surprise myself with the good that comes out of me. One person who inspires me to challenge myself and bring forth my best is Sarita. Always checking out my blogs and Tumblr and reading those crazy tweets of mine, Sarita never hesitates to let me and the world know when I did it right. She inspires me to produce quality and give my genuine perspective and opinion on things nobody asked me to comment on, but I still do.

So to Sarita I raise my glass and say FIRE ONE! Thanks for inspiring me!

Follow her on Twitter and be sure to follow her blog as well!!

Back to the books lovelies!
-The Empress

Female Insecurities

There's this girl, I'll call her Jennifer (to anyone reading this named Jennifer, I'm sorry I used your name). She's insecure about herself. She has a track record of searching for male attention in all the wrong ways. It is alleged that she may has an STI (could have/had multiple). Jennifer hates my friend Mindy (not her real name, and sorry to all the Mindys out there). She has said some things about Mindy that are false and fabricated. If Mindy were on fire Jennifer would pull out her cell phone and video take it. She wouldn't spit on her to out the flame. Mindy is a confident, strong young woman. She knows she doesn't need a man to validate herself.

What's wrong with this situation? Could it be that Jen is "hating" on Mindy because she sees what she wishes she could be in her. Could it be that because she doesn't have the self will and power to bring herself out of the dumps she is trying to bring Mindy down?

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"

So many women (and men) believe everyone's just hating on them and they hate on so many people. With so much energy being spent on negative thoughts and emotions it's no wonder one is surrounded by it. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Stop hating on anyone. You can acknowledge the fact that there are things about the person you don't like, but don't let that govern your ability to be civil with someone. Make the change. Instead of focusing on what you don't like or can't stand in a person, look at what is good about them. You don't have to be best friends with them. Just be civil. Focus on the positives. What you see that you like try to emulate it. If you started doing that I'm sure the energies around would change. You would be surrounded with more positivity and hence the people you associate with will also be positive. Don't settle. You deserve to be happy and to have confidence in yourself. You are beautiful and wonderfully created. Start today.

-The Empress