I started off college majoring in Aerospace Engineering because I love space and astronomy was “impractical”. (AKA, prospects of being paid significant portions of money out in the real world were slim.) I soon switched to mechanical engineering, unsatisfied with the more rigorous program that ‘aeros’ had to follow—one that required too much time and too much care for someone who wanted a life, however small, outside of school.
In May 2009, I received my bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. I felt proud that I had stuck out the hard work (even though I had a life on Sundays, I was doing homework the rest of the time). The pride I felt was a bit of a derisive pride. I didn’t graduate with an “easy” major (anything besides engineering was considered an easy one by engineers).
I felt satisfied that I knew how the world was created. Even if I couldn’t go out and build a building, or design the next hybrid car the next day, I knew the kind of thermodynamics, heat transfer, statics and dynamics equations I would use to get started.
And today, almost a full year later, I am proud to say I use none of those equations. I don’t design cars or buildings or anything else, and the many equations I used to vaguely recall from the recesses of my mind never really enter my thoughts.
Today, I am first and foremost a newspaper reporter, but I am also a book reviewer, a babysitting nanny, a freelance photographer and employed at a bakery. All of this, mind you, by choice.
When I graduated with my mechanical engineering degree, despite how proud I was of myself for getting through it, I had realized almost a year before that “getting through it” wasn’t what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Engineering wasn’t enough for me. It didn’t come alive. I thought everyone felt that way until I reached my junior and senior years and started seeing how passionate others where about it. They thrived. Some of them even liked working on the weekends.
I’ve always been a people’s person. I love to talk. I love to ask questions. I love to learn new things. I love to know how the world works—but I realize that I don’t really want to create the moving pieces. I want to know the people instead.
I chose to be a writer because it made sense for me. I no longer needed hefty sums of money (though being able to pay my bills would be super). All I needed was something I really cared about. As a reporter in the South End of Boston, I get to go behind the buildings I used to think were cold and heartless and see the miracles and, just as often, the devastation inside. I get to be nosy and ask questions I wouldn’t normally get to ask. I get to talk to people I probably never would have met. And in doing so, I’ve really expanded my worldview. Things are less black and white, more gray. I am 112% less judgmental than I was before. I get to tell inspiring stories. I have to tell about liars. I expose cracks in broken systems. I help people find exciting things to do.
I have a responsibility to be an ethical, honest, approachable voice, and I’m up to it!
Whether or not I can pay the bills, and whether or not reporting is where I will spend the rest of my days, I am glad that I chose to follow what I felt passionate about instead of what I spent four years and a good chunk of change on.
I’m lovin’ it.
Photo Credit: Argonne National Laboratory
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It's funny, because you usually hear this kind of euphoria described with the college experience, and “getting through it” as life post-grad.
Great article. I feel this is a true example of how one shouldn't let their major determine their job. Definitely forwarding this along to all my E-School friends!
I love this transformation. Finding your passion is the single most important thing anyone can do as it's the source of all happiness and satisfaction. We often get so far down a path that we fear turning back or taking a detour. This is a reminder that it's OK to change your mind.
This is a really great article. It highlights the idea that what you study in college doesn't define what you do with the rest of your life. You found your passion, and that takes courage. Especially if you're trying to do what you want without a degree to necessarily back it up. I admire your courage to just do what you love.
I like to remind my friends and family that, “You have the right to change your mind at any time. It's your life.”
I think it's empowering. And if they believe it, they'll stop living on for fear of what people will think if they change their mind or the fear of “what if I change my mind again?”. Good for you Kate!
Congrats! engineering grad here, considering journalism =)
@LauBenedict
I got a degree in Mechanical Engineering 20+ years ago now — and that was the last time I calculated mass or temperature or pressure. It wasn't for me as a career either, though I think the education I got helped me a lot along the way.
I got into writing software out of school and am still doing that today. It's been a great career for me. Fun and creative and innovative.
I got an MBA a few years out of school and that turned out to be a great thing. It helped me understand business and people better. I think working for a few years and then going after a full-time MBA is a great path. It lets you decide what you want and what you're good at — and you can transition out of an MBA program into finance or marketing or sales or whatever even if you have no previous experience in that field.
Best of luck from another misplaced ME.
One other quick comment -
I was also Editor in Chief of a magazine for a while (LinuxWorld Magazine, now out of print). In that capacity I dealt with a lot of journalists who were writing for me.
I wouldn't recommend it as a career for long… I saw tons of brilliant, passionate people getting laid off, getting their rates cut, having trouble finding work, etc.
I think writing is a great way to make you more valuable at other things. Like a programmer who can publish articles will be a more valuable developer and get paid more. A finance person who can get articles into print might get promoted (or get a better job) because those are considered 'leadership skills'. It also shows great communications skills.
So I'd recommend polishing the writing chops for a while — but then moving into something long-term that can provide more stability and better pay.
Just my 2 cents.
Glad things are working out for you, I too finished with a science degree only to decide that I wanted a more people oriented direction with my career. Love the attitude of not being pinned down to a course because that's what you got your degree in, and couldn't agree more!
Thank you!
Good luck with everything! It's an easy enough switch if you're okay with being dreadfully terrified and unemployed for a few or more months
. I hated that, but i love what I'm doing now!
Thank you! best of luck in your future as well.
I'll keep that in mind. I don't know where I'l end up, so I'm going with the flow for the time being and feeling out the landscape for what's next.
Thank you for the comment!
Congrats, Kate. I'm no stranger to changing career paths.
Started off studying sciences, switched to economics, ended up with a law degree. Worked in immigration law, then managed food services, now I'm an online product manager at a marketing company. One of my closest friends had a mechanical engineering degree, and has spent the last 3 years teaching English in Japan. My girlfriend was an English Lit major, she now runs a restaurant.
I say, do whatever makes you happy at the present moment. In a few years, what makes you happy might be completely different.
hey Kate thanks for the reply. i guess blogging is a good start… started blogging 2 yrs ago. add me on twitter, have a few questions for you, if you don't mind! @LauBenedict
This is the story of my life… I graduated this past may with a degree in Mech Engineering. All my life I’ve loved to be informed and had a passion for journalism, however the fear of studying something “easy” made me go into science and engineering. After reading this I will act on what truly brings happiness to me,WRITING!