Who Do You Think You Are?

4Are You Ready for a Career in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math?

Just before I (Shaun) sat down to start this chapter, NASA announced the discovery of a nearby solar system with seven planets that are close to the size of Earth, all of which could have water and temperatures that are suitable for life. I watched a live video feed as researchers explained with excitement the painstaking scientific process behind their inspiring find. It was a beautiful mix of astrophysics, mathematical deduction, and clever software engineering to repurpose a space probe that wasn't even designed to look for planets. As the story unfolded, I couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion because science was the first subject in school that sparked a true passion in me, and that passion led me to start college as a physics major, bent on unlocking some secret of the universe with an almost religious zeal.

My life and career since that time have strayed far from that earnest dream. A Nobel Prize or even just the deep satisfaction of revealing a small piece of nature's inner workings will never be a part of my story. Things have worked out just fine for me, but studying science in college was nothing like I expected, and the realities of a career in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) do not always line up with the recruiting pitch that promises that going into a STEM career will help you change the world. The world of STEM careers is a vast topic, which is part of its appeal, but ...