<-- Previous Chapter
From Petra's diary
My high school diploma day is approaching at an alarming speed, yet I haven't decided what to do next.
I mean, I'm sure I'll go to college, but to study what? And where? I have to make up my mind quickly and start sending out applications for enrollment and scholarships to avoid being left out, and yet I'm too undecided to make any move.
Obviously, Emy and Mike are in a similar situation as me, they just seem a bit more sure about what major to take. Needless to say, this is our main topic of conversation nowadays.
Michael: At least Emma seems pretty determined about what to do, right?
Emma: Of course I do, I want to study medicine!
Emy talks about it often, both I and Mike weren't surprised at all. And we're all convinced that it would really be the right major for her, it would perfectly combine her intelligence and her predisposition to want to help others.
Emma: Moving to the important stuff, why don't we try to apply to the same university, all three of us? It would be great to go to college together, right?
Petra: Well, yes... But where? There are so many interesting universities around, I really don't know which one to choose.
Michael: I'd like to study computer science, or programming, or stuff like that. I'm not worried about moving, but I would like to go to a good university, learn cutting-edge methods and so on.
Petra: Techna always speaks highly of Tech Sixam University for those subjects. They, ehm... they analysed a lot of statistics online, you know.
I was about to let slip that Techna had graduated there too, before remembering that the others didn't know how many years ago they were built, nor did they realize the computing power of their AI.
Michael: I read good things about it too, you know? And then, thinking about it, in the last decades all the most modern technologies come from New Sixam. Their university must have crazy ongoing projects!
Petra: Yes, that's likely the case...
We have always liked scientific subjects, and objectively Tech Sixam is a step ahead of all the others in this regard. And then I would be curious to live for a while in New Sixam: because of my family roots I technically have a dual passport but I've barely ever gone there. But the most important question remained, that is…
Emma: What were you thinking of studying instead, Petra?
Petra: (undecided) I'm not sure, there are so many subjects that I like...
At school we study so many subjects, like math, physics, chemistry, biology... They are all subjects that I am good at and that I am interested in studying, but often the lessons seem too theoretical and far from reality.
I like to understand how things work, and think about how to make them work better. This sounds like the definition of engineering, but this doesn't really help me much in narrowing the number of options...
Petra: I mean, I'd probably like engineering, but which branch should I choose?
Michael: I see... It really seems like there is an engineering for everything nowadays. I postponed this for too long, I have to open the Tech Sixam University website, go on the Engineering webpage and read all the details I can find.
Mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science, civil, biomedical... There were really a ton of possible branches to choose from, and each of them was described is such enthusiastic terms. What if I was wrong, and ended up studying something I didn't like?
I continued to scroll through the Tech Sixam University majors page, when my eye fell on a major flagged with a bright "New" label. “Engineering for Ecological Transition” was the name of the major. When I thought about it, climate change was one of the main challenges of our time, everyone knew we had to hurry up and fix greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible. So I started reading about what the major was proposing: renewable energy source engineering, greenhouse gas capture materials, advanced recycling techniques… The more I read, the more I thought that this might be the right major for me.
But I didn’t want to rush it either, so I ended up talking to the being who knows the most about engineering in the house: Techna.
Techna: This is a very recent degree, it wasn’t among the options available when I attended. But it seems in line with your interests, and objectively the Tech Sixam engineering department has been at the forefront of all the most important research projects in the sector in recent years. Statistically speaking, it's one of the strongest options I can think of, nowadays.
Petra: (reassured) Really? Thanks, you've been very helpful!
In the following days, Emy, Mike and I sent in our applications, putting Tech Sixam University as our first choice. All we could do was keep our fingers crossed and hope that our grades would be enough to get all three of us in… Can you cross your fingers for us too, my dear diary? We would really appreciate it, right now.
--------------------------------------------------------------
From Gaia's diary
Petra has been really busy these weeks, but she's not the only one working hard.
To my surprise, Nico started waking up early to remove weeds and water the plants in our little garden. He seems to be having a lot of fun, and he's even started taking an elective farming class at school. In short, he seems to be really passionate about it.
Alec doesn't seem to share his enthusiasm, in particular when Nico's alarm wakes him up earlier than the roaster does. I'm very happy for Nico instead, it's pleasant news to see him so passionate about something.
Not that the rest of us have started to slack off, far from it! I've a new project in mind right now to discuss with Techna, I think that if we moved the teleportation chip just a little higher up on the motherboard we'd have all the space for-
Nacho: (in pain) Meow…
Gaia: (worried) Nacho, are you all right?
Gaia: Nacho?
It was the last thing I expected to see that morning, Nacho scared me so much! Come to think of it, Nacho had never been sick in all the time I've known him, what could have happened this time? I didn't waste too much time thinking about it, and rushed to the vet to get an answer.
Vet: How old is your cat?
Gaia: Um, I don't know exactly... He was already an adult when I met him, and looked the same ever since.
Vet: I see...
I avoided telling him the whole story, who would believe that Nacho is way older than me? I'm pretty sure that, whatever the reason for this oddity is, it won't change the vet's diagnosis. Nacho seemed already uncomfortable, he did his best to run away on the way to the vet office, and I didn't want to make it any longer than it needed to be.
Vet: I think he ate some poisonous insect, there have been strange little cockroaches flying around lately. Wait a minute, I'm taking the antidote.
Vet: (giving an injection) Here you go!
Nacho: Meow!
I was already picking up my stuff and preparing to leave, when the vet started to cautiously ask:
Vet: There is something very weird with this cat, but I can't really tell what. It would probably be a good idea to have some other exams to-
But before he could finish the sentence, Nacho had already jumped down the table and rushed out the door. He really doesn't like doctors... And I couldn't spend all the morning there, I was late for work already. So I rushed after Nacho, and we returned back home.
Gaia: Well, Nacho, you really made me worry this time! Be more careful with your preys, okay?
Nacho: Meow…
But enough chit-chat, it was time to get to our startup and get busy. I was already horribly late, I couldn't waste any more time!
??? : What, my phone isn't ready yet?
Gaia: In these weeks we're giving priority to assembling the components for the bay barrage, I'm afraid the other projects will have to wait a few more days.
???: Uhm, I see…
Gaia: We really have had a lot of customers recently, it's been a while since we had so many requests to recombine electronic devices in a single day!
Techna: I think it has to do with inflation, recently the prices of many products have increased significantly. The cost of our service is becoming more competitive with the market, I'd say.
Gaia: Well, good for us then!
Techna: …
Gaia: What, did I say something wrong?
Techna: Technically what you say is correct as far as our startup's budget is concerned. But it's the reasons for the price increases that I find the most concerning.
Gaia: What do you mean?
Techna: Weather-related damage is becoming more frequent year after year, forcing everyone to face unexpected reconstruction costs and interfering with supply chains, causing higher demands than offers and inflation. Currently, raw materials prices are quickly rising, making matter recombination a more competitive option, but the general price increase remains.
Gaia: I understand...
Maybe it's old age, but I find myself looking at the landscape more and more often and reflecting on times gone by. We have done everything we could to recover this neighbourhood, first with the construction of the Star Core power plant financed by my parents that now powers much of the region and provides enough energy to allow widespread use of teleportation, and then with the redevelopment of the old polluted landfill that used to be the port area.
I have always thought it was important to try to help the environment, my parents had instilled this idea in me since I was very little. I travel by bike, I produce most of the vegetables and energy we use at home by myself, and I try to make all the buildings I design energy-neutral as well. Not to mention the matter recomposer, I haven't added fresh raw materials in years and I just recompose what I have on hand.
In short, I don't think I could have done much more.
And yet, even if garbage and pollution are far history here in Evergreen Harbour, the effects of climate change are now visible also in here. I mean, we're talking about global warming, how can such a small town have a real impact on the whole planet?
On one hand, this is so frustrating, I know there is still so much to do… And yet I am also starting to get tired of always having to be the one who makes sacrifices. I have dedicated myself to this for so many years now, I think it is time to pass the baton to someone with more energy and motivation than me.
The management of the startup is now increasingly in the hands of Techna, I think I will soon step back and leave the reins to them full-time. After all, I also deserve to enjoy my retirement and the trips that Diego and I have planned, right?
Speaking of Diego, I should go home. He'll be here any minute to prepare a cake, tonight we are celebrating!
---------------------------------------------------------------
From Petra's Diary
Our graduation just finished, it's so weird to think that our high school years are over… But it also means that adulthood is upon us, so many doors will open up to us now!
All of this, is just a cake decorated with candles away…
Diego: Happy birthday, Petra!Alec: That's delicious! What did you put in the cake this time, Diego?
Diego: I just got back from a trip to Verona Creek, you know, and there was this farm that sold these amazing strawberries. So I thought I'd get some.
Nico: C'mon, it sounds like such a normal recipe!
Diego: And then I added a pinch of Sixam fanged flower from your garden, it seemed like a good combination, because-
Diego at that point made us all burst out laughing, only he could see the Sixam fanged flower as a banal cake ingredient. Yet the cake is fantastic, and no one dares to complain about the ingredients he decided to use.
Emma: Happy birthday!
Petra: T-thanks!Petra: By the way, have you received an answer from the university yet?
Michael: No, nada. But according to the website, they might start sending out reply emails around midnight.
Emma: I'm so anxious…
Anxiety was an understatement, I admit that the fear of not being admitted kept us from enjoying the party to the fullest.
But that email was more important, right? After all, my whole future depends on the university I get admitted to!
Come on, answer, what are you waiting for?
I spent several minutes clicking on “update” waiting for the damn email to appear, when…
Petra: (incredulous) I'm in! And I also got into my first-choice major!
Looking back, I got fewer scholarships than I thought I deserved, but what do I care? I'm about to move to Tech Sixam with my best friends, and we'll learn a lot of interesting things, I can't wait!
