DONAGHCLONEY girl Sarah McLean would like nothing more than a 32 hour day.
To say Sarah leads a busy lifestyle would be an understatement... and certainly not what you'd expect of a student.
Sarah is in the second year of a PHd at Queen's studying the spread of zebra mussels in Lough Neagh.
The zoology student has a p
assion for the great outdoors - a passion which manifests itself in her studies and in her work with the Girl Guides.
Sarah has been with the Guides since she was "no age" coming through the Bunnies and Brownies at 1st Waringstown, the Guides at 1st Lurgan and back to the Rangers at 1st Waringstown.
She's since joined 22nd Belfast where she completed her Queen's Guide Award and was given the honour of becoming Ulster Queen's Guide Commissioner.
Sarah said: "There's three generations of my family involved with the Guides. My granny used to sneak out of the house to go to Guides. My mum was district commissioner for Lurgan.
"Through the Guides I've learnt a lot about team work. You learn things like survival skills as well. All the sort of things I put into practice with my work."
23-year-old Sarah lives in Ballygowan, but before making the trip home from Queen's every evening she pops in to see her horse, Blossom, who is stabled close to her work on the Upper Malone Road.
Not content with having 101 things to do Sarah is also captain of Queen's Equestrian team.
"What I really need is a 32 hour day," joked Sarah.
If you could trade places with anyone else for the day who would it be and why?
Definitely David Attenborough! I cannot imagine anything better than travelling the world looking at animals! Can I trade for more than one day??!!
Describe your perfect day...
I wake up to find I am in a tent in Africa ready to start my first day as head researcher on Amboseli game reserve. Spend all day tracking game in my Land Rover Series 3. After "work" ride around the edge of the reserve on my horse before sunset. Back to camp at night for dinner under the stars by the campfire!
If you could change your job what would you do instead?
I actually love what I do but I would really like to go into wildlife journalism.
Party animal or couch potato?
Total party animal…. I get bored if sitting still for more than 10 minutes at a time
What do you see yourself doing in 10 years time?
I hope to still be travelling, Playing with animals and generally having fun!
Who or what has been the most influential force in your life?
Definitely my parents.
If you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you bring with you?
A good book (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)
Crisps
Can I bring my horse??
Would you describe yourself as competitive?
Yes very!
Are you environmentally friendly?
I try to be, sort of goes with the territory being a biologist.
Could you bear to be parted from your mobile phone for a week?
Yes, please take it away! Although I would miss it eventually.
