So I was watching Scrubs, because if I wanna truly relax, that plus a beer, results in a great evening. Anyway, Elliot was posed the question did you become a doctor because you wanted to be one or because your doing it for someone else. This got me thinking about why I chose to be a Computer Scientist. I sat there for at least an hour and couldn’t figure out how I chose that as my major, let alone my profession. I have tons of attributes that would make me great at tons of other fields, Medicine, Business, Teaching, Man Whore; the list goes on and on. Why engineering… why Computers in particular.
The computer answer is easy. I remember my 5th grade teacher Mr. Tschumperlin, teaching the class BASIC. I know I loved the logic behind it and I used to skip recess to sit in the lab and play. The overall leaning towards science is still hard to figure out. One of my earliest memories was when I was in Fort Wayne attending Irwin Elementary and I was in the second grade. Some punk ass 6th grader asked me what I wanted to be, and I said in my meek little voice “a scientist”, he laughed at me and said “I probably couldn’t even spell it”. I recall wowing him completely but spelling it correctly, or at least correct enough for him. So since I was in second grade I’ve wanted to be a Scientist. Go further back, and I know my Grandpa Sam loved to talk to me about building stuff, and even got me a tool box to play with. I think I was the only six year old that had a real tool box. Of course fast forward 17 years and I still don’t know how to use a hammer.
This still leaves me curious as to when becoming an engineer first crossed my mind. When I lived with my Mom in Fort Wayne; I built small communities with my Lego’s and elaborate forts out of blankets. Blanket forts were the shiznit. I remember getting really annoyed playing Lego’s with my neighbor Jonathan because his houses walls didn’t have all the same colors and were structurally unsound. I remember getting really perturbed when I was five and my babysitter Linda didn’t believe me when I said I could count to a thousand. I know I could, but I think my ADD got in the way.
So all of this leaves me sitting here unknowing to my first inspiration, perhaps engineering is engraved in my genes. It bothers me because I feel like I never gave thought to this decision. Some people say they want to be a fireman or an astronaut; even some had the lofty goals of being president. I simply said “Scientist”. I never really had a choice in picking out what I have become, because I’ve never allowed an alternative. Am I living my dream, or am I just too stubborn to give up on a commitment I made when I was seven to some punk sixth grader?
For all my Engineer buds, when did you get inspired for the first time in your choice of career?
Comments:
Ummm…that has still yet to happen (and it’s not because I am a closet CS), but until it does, the paychecks are nice 🙂
Posted by Vince at 12:57 PM on March 26, 2007
all about money isn’t it Vince… Sell out. BTW we need to hang out this weekend.
Posted by Halfcent at 01:10 PM on March 26, 2007
“Of course fast forward 17 years and I still don’t know how to use a hammer.”
Thats a Jewish trait, I dont blame you… I can’t either…
Posted by Bander at 11:58 PM on March 27, 2007
Just do what you makes you happy. PPeople on average change careers 3-4 times in their lifetime. Don’t get stuck in something you don’t like or want.
Posted by smiesrus at 07:13 PM on April 7, 2007