The first of many "I graduate SOON!" freak outs
On Tuesday I volunteered at UW's March Break Open House (oh, the lengths to which I'll go to get a free t-shirt!) giving tours and talking to potential engineering students.
I ran into an old prof from a course I took last summer, Fluids. It just so happens that I got my highest university mark ever in Fluids. I liked the course, I liked the prof, and I may or may not have had a mild, mild, mild crush on the TA.
Anyway he totally remembered my full name! Come on, that's pretty rare. I guess as a female engineer I'm slightly more memorable than my classmates, but then he also remembered my mark in the course. He then brought up that he had seen me at the engineering graduate studies presentation (oh, the lengths to which I'll go to get free lunch!) and asked if I had considered doing a masters specializing fluids.
Well colour me flattered! (i.e, kind of mauve-taupe, wouldn't you say?)
I've been giving law school some pretty serious consideration since about January, but all it look was 10 minutes with this prof for my mind to be completely changed! I love all the profs in the fluids department. Ooh, I wonder where my office would be? Man, I'd be the very best TA.
I called my mom that night and she was like, "uh, you'd hate that. You're just flattered. You don't want to do a masters in engineering" and I was all, "What, no, I was BORN to do a M.AppSci or whatever it's called! BORN TO"
But now, 48 hours later, I've realized that mom does indeed know best. I wasn't really interested, just flattered. Ugh, imagine the career I'd have if I did my masters? Like, research? Teaching? Lord knows I don't have the patience for teaching ESPECIALLY for teaching engineers. Engineers are a cocky bunch. I can say that because I'm a year away from being one. You can't say it though. Those are the rules.
Anyway but in my haste to imagine a future as an engineering grad student, I thought up 100 reasons why I'd hate law school. So now in addition to realizing I should never do a masters in engineering, I've also realized that I'd hate law school. Like tort law? Real estate law? That stuff? Bore me out of town, please!
The trouble is that my skills/interests are so diverse (I only know one other engineering-improvising-triathlete. KoryMath. But he doesn't share my passion for feminism and baby-naming trends so I'm back to feeling alone in the world) that I'm very afraid that nothing exists to satisfy all my parts. Surely there's a tiny niche out there somewhere just crying out for somebody like me?
14 comments:
it's true... you WOULD hate to be an engineering grad student. or maybe you'd love it. but you'd probably hate it. you should just start your own improv camp... i could see you being happy forever doing that.
I don't know you well enough to say what you would like or not. But five years ago I had a decision: biology grad school or medical school. I chose med school, because, well, it's complicated. But being a professor and teaching or doing research is, in the future, a much more flexible option than law school. Think about the things you love and what job will give you the most opportunity to continue doing the things you love outside of work. And grad school wouldn't be THAT bad.
Do you have to get a masters? What can you do in life with the engineering degree you are getting now? And grad school can always wait a few years if you don't know what it is you want to veer towards quite yet.
I don't think I've ever read about what you're studying for your major. But even I think going from engineering to law school is strange! Those don't make sense at all! Do you still want to go to grad school though?
I gave you an award on my blog!
You have a year?! I have five weeks. I am freaking out! Want to hook me up with one of your job connections? Lol.
Do what makes you happy. I am considering a life of a hippy.
I'm so glad you have your mom as a wise sounding board. It's good to have someone who knows you that well who can be totally honest with you.
1. was the tshirt bright yellow? i love free tshirts...
2. your full name is the best. so its no wonder he remembered it!
I'm ten years ahead of you and still trying to figure out the right thing. Hopefully Kenya will help you figure it out.
I love feminism and baby name trends!
It is so fun when your name is ultra-unpopular, like KORY.
But seriously, this is a big deal, and it is great to see that you are considering many options. There are so many people in my class that have had their mind set in one direction and have given up great opportunities to fulfill the trip toward their destination.
After looking at my classes and schedule, and after winning the election and soon becoming the President of the Students' Union at the U of Alberta, I realize that I still have many days in the Engineering buildings, and that is helping me consider many options outside of grad school, outside of Edmonton, and even outside of the country.
Don't be afraid to open yourself up to new opportunity, because it might just let you let go of everything, and get excited in a whole new universe.
K
my sister is a phd candidate in genetics and immunology (also not a very lady-heavy field) and finds it frustrating on a daily basis that her interests are much farther-flung than JUST genetics (or even JUST science) - she's also a professional dancer, teaches SAT classes, and has won awards in everything from latin to philosophy. she insists that her extracurricular interests (eg dance) find a place in her schedule, and refuses to use all her credit hours within the science dept.
so i think my point is that even if you do end up being an engineering grad student, or a fluidsmaster or whatever, someone like you will still need to do OTHER stuff too. and you can :-)
It turns out you're not quite as unique as you think you are... I've been reading your blog for a while because of how strangely similar we are.
That sounded kinda creepy, but I promise I'm not!
For instance:
My name is Lisa
I have four sisters
I'm an engineering student
I enjoy triathlons (ok, so I've done only one, but I plan on remedying that this summer)
I've never done improv, but I've always thought it looked like fun and I've done regular ol' acting in plays.
Strange... no?
I have the exact same feeling.. I'm delurking to tell you. I'm moving inexorably towards grad school by virtue of the DAYS going by, but my entire being is trying to claw it's way back to being an undergrad. You know when you were little and mushed all of your "favorite jobs" into one? I was a helicopter flying nurse who was also, interestingly enough, a chef. Why can't we find jobs that fit all our niches like that? WHY? *SMILE* Feel your pain sister.
Oh, graduation freak-outs are the worst. But so normal and healthy! I look back fondly on the days of nervous breakdowns that consumed my life for the last month of school.
Now I am going through it all over again as my best friend is graduating this year. Midnight phone calls, irrational behavious, tears, tears and more tears, and lots of binge drinking (okay maybe that was just me).
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