Research Studies and such

In my junior and senior years of high school (the Saints are down 6-10 on offence), and I was required to do a research study each year. In my junior year (the Saints just made a touchdown and the extra point was good! The score is now 13-10), I did a study about a woman’s risk of developing post partum depression based upon her personality. Because this was primarily a survey study, I did not receive much response with the time I was allotted. I ended up doing a mega-analysis on the subject. This is when (Colts just returned the kick to the twenty-four yard line) someone takes research others have already done and extensively compare and contrast them. It was kind of interesting. The topic is interesting, but it would have been nice to be able to do my own research. (Colts get a first down) My senior year research project was much more interesting. I studied the social dynamics of a bongo herd at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk. Every Saturday morning for five months, I observed the behavior of the zoo’s bongo herd. Before I went out to observe, I cleaned their stalls, fed them, and sometimes played with the calves (:D). If you do not know, a bongo is basically a big antelope. It is reddish in color with twelve to fourteen cream colored stripes. Their horns are spiral, but how much they twist depends on the horn thickness. There were three calves born in late September and early October. It was really interesting to see how well the herd adjusted around the (the Colts just got a touchdown, I hope the extra point is bad) calves. Unfortunately, while the zoo was trying to transport one of the calves to another zoo, the oldest calf broke her leg and died. This was also a very descriptive study, and because I had so much information, I focused it on determining if it was safe to reintroduce the calves into the herd after they are born (as this does not happen in the wild—males generally roam alone). Along with making my own observations (Saints from the thirty-four yard line), I emailed other zoos and asked for information on their own reintroductions. It was a very successful study. This was a little disorganized, but I am obviously watching the Super bowl at the same time!