A Writing Life (Part 7)

I mentioned that my interest in science was partly inspired by my perception of what it meant to be a scientist. The other influence did come from school. From the moment we were about to graduate from the elementary level, we were put into different streams of academic ability (the levels were called Basic, General and Advanced). I somehow made it into the Advanced stream. I really do not know why. My grades in the courses unrelated to science (History, French, Art, and especially English) were quite good. It was mathematics and science that tripped me up. And yet, I was put into that advanced group before entering high school. We had different math books, different assignments, even different equipment (it was the first time I needed a programmable calculator). It added to the sea of confusion I found myself in, and no one could tell that I was drowning.

High school added confusion to confusion. I could not focus on the homework in my science classes and the math seemed to be written in a foreign language (in its own way this is true). But I persevered, even going so far as to cheat on an aptitude test (the test was given during a chemistry class; a nice touch, I thought). Up to my first year at university, I had it in mind that I was supposed to be in science (it became computer science). And then I simply had enough. I left the major I found myself with and took a different route at another school. This is why I now have a master’s degree from one of the oldest universities in the country and no regrets about the decision to change my field of study. This is why I would encourage anyone who asks to study what they love, not the material thought to lead to some sort of job in a murky future.