GET SUPPORT

It’s normal to want to break out of your shell, but do find a family member, friend or mentor to guide and encourage you on your way.

DUCK FACTS

Shortly before hatching, the nearly developed embryos produce clicking and peeping sounds inside the eggs. Known as “pipping”, these vocalizations help synchronize hatching among different members of the brood. The hen responds by making soft clucking sounds to her unhatched ducklings. These early communications are a crucial part of a process known as imprinting, in which the ducklings learn to recognize their mother's voice. This ensures that the brood will follow their mother when it’s time to leave the nest.

As the hatching process begins, each duckling penetrates the inner shell membrane of the air cell with its bill, and its lungs start to function. Next the ducklings take on the arduous task of breaking out of their shells. Young waterfowl use an egg tooth–a hard, horny structure on the upper tip of the bill– to break through the outer shell membrane and shell. It typically takes about a day for all the ducklings to hatch. Once they have emerged from the eggs, the ducklings remain in the nest with their mother for another 24 hours or so until their down has dried. Then the ducklings are ready to leave the nest and follow their mother to the nearest wetland to feed. Ducks.org.

WISE WORDS

Roman Krznaric - what matters to you?

Find an ethical career, focussed on values and issues that matter to you, and which also allows you to do what you're really good at. That might sound like a luxury option when there are long queues at job centres. But consider that in OECD countries, the social enterprise sector is growing 250 percent faster than the rest of the economy.

So imagine yourself in three parallel universes, in each of which you can spend next year trying a job in which your talents meet the needs of the world. What three jobs would you be excited to try?

NEXT STEPS

Make sure you don't miss these great links!

• You can do what you need to do.
• Sarah Steenland draws cartoons and sails the world with her husband and children. Check out her funky website!
• Sonia Singh's love of dolls took off. Hear her story and how her mum and husband lent their support on this inspiring 7 minute You Tube video.

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