The number 6.87 changed my life and became my favorite number.

A decimal number as a favorite number

It is uncommon to have a decimal number as a favorite number, as usually favorite numbers are associated with relevant dates in our lives or simply that we like a number without knowing why. However, in my favorite number there is a story to tell that I hope you like.

It was the year 2000, when I went to the University of Oviedo to enroll for a Biology degree after having finished my secondary education with good grades and also my baccalaureate.

However, once the deadline for registration was over I got the bad news that I was left out of the places available for this career, since the cut-off mark was 6.87 and I had an average grade of 6.85. Therefore, I spent a few days angry for not getting into what I considered my passion.

Fortunately, in my application to the University I had marked Chemistry as my second university degree, which was a complete success.

I studied Chemistry at the University of Oviedo for 4 years, where I made many good friends that I still have today and for whom I would give part of my life and even all of it.

After finishing my degree, I continued my doctoral studies at the same university which is the most beautiful period of my life.

I was researching interesting things using stable isotopes to better understand certain animal and plant metabolisms, studying the origin of archaeological pieces by measuring Pb isotope ratios and above all I made friends in the lab with whom the weekend nights were a real madness of partying, alcohol and some sex.

I also remember how much fun it was to attend the congresses, being one of the last ones I went to in the city of Graz the one I have the best memories of.

Although a bit cloudy due to the large amount of beer ingested at the social events. Poor Yoana almost spilled the beer all over her.

When I was finishing my PhD, a start-up company of some researchers from the University of Oviedo knocked on my door to ask me to join their project to provide training in analytical techniques. It is the company where I am still working after 15 years and I hope to continue for many more. It is a very tiring job, having to travel almost every week around Spain. But traveling expenses paid and having time to visit places like Seville or Granada is not available to everyone.

Therefore, the number 6.87 that left me out of studying Biology became my favorite number and gave me a life that I would not change.

Back to chemistry school

As for color, I never had a specific favorite color; however, I believe that the many years I spent in chemistry school during my undergraduate and doctoral studies have influenced my preference for the color orange.

At the same time, you already know that I am passionate about photography and on my phone I have lots and lots of pictures of sunsets with golden and orange skies.

I even stop on the side of a road to photograph an orange sunset.

Or like last week at the Seville airport, I left the terminal specifically to photograph these orange sunset clouds.

I don't think it's a color I would wear a shirt in, but I really like this color a lot.

Greetings.