Alia-801's philosophy of everything

So Who am I?, and What makes me who I am?

Both deep questions, but I'll give them a go anyways... (By the way, I'm not really much of a philosopher, so this page is more general ramblings... you have been warned!)

As you've probably seen from my home page, I'm 30 years old. I run a gymnastic club, and teach chemistry and astrophysics at university and pre-university level. I'm also an accredited rhythmic gymnastics coach, and a keen amateur dancer.

I don't think I chose the subjects as much as they chose me. When I was choosing my A-levels, I wanted to take Sports Science, but for some inexplicable reason I decided (just before I was due to start) that I wanted to do something else instead. To this day I still don't know why or how I ended up with Physics... I just seemed to be good at it, so it was natural to carry on with it to uni, and then I just kept going... I loved teaching, but hated research. Unfortunately the ethos in universities at present is that you have to be a great researcher to have a job, even though the vast majority of good researchers are appaling lecturers (note I said the majority - not all of them!). I fell in love with chemistry when I was waiting for a physics class at high school, opposite the chemistry labs where the class was busy turning solutions different colours. It looked pretty and I was hooked!

Another of the questions people ask me is Why I am in St John Ambulance?, and Why I spend so much of my time on it?
I was in St John when I was younger, as a cadet, though I left for a while before coming to uni. When I got to Keele I joined the LINKS group in my second year. I always enjoyed first aid - it gave me a lot of confidence, and I liked seeing events from a perspective few people get. Having done first aid before I was happy enough to get on with covering events on my own - mostly the student union at Keele, where I got experience treating almost everything you can imagine (especially drunk people!). As with most student societies, people came and went as they finished their degrees, including the committee who ran it. Somehow I stepped into the fray, and ended up with the whole society on my hands.
I was in a unique position, having continued on at Keele after finishing my first degree, so I was able to provide continuity to the group - which allowed us to build up links with other units in the County and beyond! As for why I let it take over my life - I don't know. It was one of those things that crept up on me when I wasn't looking then wouldn't let me escape it! Sometimes I wished it would just go and hide in a corner and let me get on with my life, and finally that happened. I took a break for a year or two before joining the Monash Combined Division. I'm now one of the trainers for the group. I'm also one of the radio communications operators, and I regularly have the bizarre experience of having my voice recognised by complete strangers who've heard me on the radio net (there aren't many British chicks on the Victorian St John airwaves!).

My big philosophy in life is "Do as you would be done by". I try my best to consider other people, sometimes too much I know, but I don't think I'd change anything. I'm vegan, and won't wear leather, wool, or silk, or use animal-tested products or those which contain animal-derived ingredients, as I believe that everyone (human or animal) has a right to life. I don't believe anyone has the right to kill, but that's just my view.

I also believe that everyone should be able to live their life without predjudice - on grounds of age, gender, race, belief, sexuality or anything else, and I do my best not to judge anyone.

My friends are some of the most important people to me - they've all helped me through some trauma or another, and I hope I have done, or will do the same for them if they need it.
After all, what are friends for?

I believe in some degree of destiny - that life has a plan for you - but I also believe that we have a hand in shaping it. Life is what we make it. For the moment I'm enjoying mine...
In the words of The Rocky Horror Show: Don't Dream it. Be it.

When I'm not working, or on duty, or pondering the deeper meaning of anything, my hobbies are dancing, reading (historical fiction (especially the wonderful Bernard Cornwell and the brilliant Edward Ruthurfurd) and sci-fantasy mostly, as well as pretty much any books that come my way!). I also go to the cinema as often as I can (My favourite film is "Gladiator", closely followed by Jesus Christ Superstar (2000) and"Good Will Hunting"). I also do yoga, go to the theatre, I'm learning to sing properly, I coach and judge gymnastics, and just generally try to keep up with whatever else is happening!

Last updated 25 Dec 2007 Page designed by: alia-801
Image use policy: All images on this site are copyright alia-801, unless indicated otherwise. You may use images from this site for non-commercial purposes, so long as credit is given to A. Ford. Please email me if you have any queries - alia_801 [at] planet-save . com