Today's theme of, "What would you be doing if I wasn't doing science," is a very interesting question for me, as I have been into science my entire life! My parents still mention at their attempts to get me into pee-wee soccer, but realizing it was futile when I spent more time looking at the ants in the grass than on the actual ball.

All of my career goals have also been pretty much science related: Paleontologist, Biologist, Zoologist, Microbiologist, and science writer. But, even though I love science, there was one hard choice I made as a kid that could easily have been an alternate career path.

When I was a kid, up until the end of high school, I was an actor.

Ever since I acted in my first elementary school play, I was hooked! I went and saw plays, musicals, movies, etc... and fell in love with the wonderful world of acting.

So, I acted, and I ended up being thrust into the world of musicals. Yes ... musicals.

My first part was in a camp production of Beauty and the Beast, where I played Belle's horse, Phillip (pronounced PHILL-eep). I had one line, but I went after it like lion stalks a gazelle. And it was GLORIOUS. I still remember the line:
"It's getting dark out here, Belle. We better be careful *neighs*"

Once the play was over, I was officially bitten by the acting bug.

Over my time as an actor, I eventually got better and better roles and even snagged the leads in some plays. They were always musicals, and man could I sing. I loved singing on stage, and being in front of a crowd (which probably explains why I still love presenting to large groups).

Some of the roles I played were:

Benjamin in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Judah in another performance of Joseph

Scar in The Lion King

A member of the company in a production of Guys and Dolls

The Pinball Wizard in Tommy

Vince Fontaine (host of the dance competition at Rydell High) in Grease

The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors

Assistant Director in another production of The Lion King

Member of the company in Les Miserables (but had a number of solo's in different songs)

Captain Hook in Peter Pan

And my favourite role was Benny in a production of RENT.

Of course, to get me to sing now (as it has been years) takes some persuasion, and ingesting a certain amount of ethanol.

I loved it, and even took drama all throughout High School. I loved it, but I also loved biology. Biology was my passion, and acting was a hobby that I was passionate about doing.

So, in OAC (which is grade 13 for those outside of Canada), I had to decide what I applied to university for: Acting or Biology. And, as you all know, I chose biology. I have no regrets about the choice, and I have loved and continue to love working in the science field. But, if you take a look at my iPod, you'll see quite a few musical songs there from plays that I have seen or acted in (and still know the words too).

Learning, doing and teaching about Biology and Zoology is what I love to do, but I do miss acting every now and then. But, if you believe in the multiverse theory, there are many universes out there where I make the other choice and become an actor.

Of course, if we take that line of reasoning, there are other universes where I am none of them, and spend my time picking up scat at Jurassic Park.