I've been seriously considering getting into engineering because of Doctor Who. I want the Doctor's ability to throw together improbable inventions on the fly and fix anything. I doubt I could do as much actual adventuring with quantum physics, it seems a lot of sitting around in academic circles.
I honestly don't think there's anything wrong with random hobby X creating an interest in something that you eventually want to learn for its own sake. as long as your interest isn't *dependent* on the games (which might be problematic in the long run), it's no less valid than just waking up one morning and deciding you're interested in virology :)
I originally got into politics because of The West Wing. As long as that's not the only reason you're interested, I think you're fine, although I can understand why you might not want to share that story, LOL.
I admire you, Anon. If I just been better at math I would have been all over a career in virology just for this very reason. Disease and viruses have fascinated me since the moment I wandered in to see my Dad playing RE1 at the age of 10.
Go for it, OP! Dudes pick their fields based on all sorts of wacky reasons. There's no good reason ladies have to be stuck needing something earthshattering and lifechanging to consider the same options.
That's cool, Anon. Virology is interesting. But it bothers me that people feel they need a ~tragic or ~legit reason to go into a scientific field. Maybe you want to study virology because it's interesting/zombies/Star Trek, not because your cousin/mentor/best friend died of TB or something. I dunno, maybe I'm nuts, but it seems like people expect there to be some deep, secret reason behind wanting to be a nerd and spend your life in a laboratory. These people clearly just don't know how awesome laboratories are. Oh, god, I'm making no sense. Summary: do what you love for your own reasons, no matter how weird they are.
[I actually wish I could cite Star Trek characters like Spock and Dax as my inspiration to become a microbiologist, but alas, I realized that science interested me before I watched the show... would've made a cool story]
As another female getting two traditionally male-dominated degrees (geology and anthropology, although anthro has gotten a pretty big female boost lately) because of childhood interests, this makes me really happy to hear!
Even if your initial interest is something silly or mundane, if you find you like the field once you've started studying it, imagine all the opportunities you've opened for yourself just by following that little hint. I majored in geology entirely because I remember the countless nights I spent poring over dinosaur books as a child, and anthropology for a similar reason, except with ancient Egypt. Now I'm looking at a ton of fun careers I never even thought about before, like a micropaleontologist, or even an internet culture specialist! Way different from what I started with, but wonderful all the same.
OP, why would women always need a sort of extra reason to pursue a carieer in a male dominated field? Not every person who lose someone to a disease is going to become a doctor; why couldn't a woman just have an interest in virology without having needs to find the cure for AIDS?
Reply
Reply
Reply
...Your reason sounds cooler, ngl. :)
We can be awesome virologists together!
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
[I actually wish I could cite Star Trek characters like Spock and Dax as my inspiration to become a microbiologist, but alas, I realized that science interested me before I watched the show... would've made a cool story]
Reply
I'm a misguided classical languages major mostly because of the Odyssey episode of Wishbone.
Reply
Even if your initial interest is something silly or mundane, if you find you like the field once you've started studying it, imagine all the opportunities you've opened for yourself just by following that little hint. I majored in geology entirely because I remember the countless nights I spent poring over dinosaur books as a child, and anthropology for a similar reason, except with ancient Egypt. Now I'm looking at a ton of fun careers I never even thought about before, like a micropaleontologist, or even an internet culture specialist! Way different from what I started with, but wonderful all the same.
I wish you the best! :) Kick some viral butts.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment