I'm proud Jessica Watson is Australian. She has circumnavigated the world in a 10.23 metre yacht. Not only do I get sea sick but I'm also claustrophobic. This young lady's adventure has caught my imagination. No matter how hard I try, I can't imagine bobbing around in this small craft in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight. Jessica has done it with only modern communication methods to keep her company. She hasn't seen another human, nor has she set foot on dry land since leaving Sydney on 17th October, 2009 - amazing for a sixteen year old female. But that's what kept me connected to Jessica's blog for these last seven months. This young lady is not your average sixteen year old. Jessica is brave, intelligent, adventurous, talented and much, much more. She has taken on the world's oceans and made them her home for seven months. Link to Jessica's blog to learn about how she coped with living at sea for seven months at http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/_blog/Official_Jessica_Watson_Blog/ .
Then I heard bad press that her attempt won't be recognised because she didn't sail far enough. Does recognition matter to Jessica? No. Her blog dated 6th May states:-
"I don't normally bother addressing critics because someone's always going to be saying something, no matter what I say or do. But I thought I'd have my 2 bobs worth on these claims that I haven't 'officially' sailed around the world.
Call me immature but I've actually been having a bit of a giggle over the whole thing. If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time! Yes it's a shame that my voyage won't be recognized by a few organizations because I'm under 18, but it really doesn't worry me.
I mean there's millions, properly billions of people who still don't believe in global warming, so I'm more than happy to settle for a few people going against the tide and declaring that mine hasn't been an official circumnavigation. Well I think I've wasted more than enough time on the whole petty debate - so moving on!"
This sums up Jessica's personality. This is what heroines are made of. Jessica has a big future ahead of her. I always dreamed of being an astronaut, and thought maybe I could really become one and be the first woman to land on Mars. Unfortunately, that dream won't be fulfilled because I now realise God has other plans for my life. But Jessica may have the time to study for such an adventure if she is that way inclined. I'm sure she has more goals in sight and it wouldn't surprise me if space travel was one of them.
Jessica expects to arrive in Sydney this coming Saturday. I take this opportunity to wish Jessica all the very best for the next stage of her life's journey. I am confident she has the courage and nous to deal with all the challenges ahead of her during the coming days, months and years.
Well done, Jessica Watson. You're an incredible young Australian!