This really resonated with me. I can also confirm that STEM fields are far from immune, and most STEM jobs are boring and lifeless. However, there's an extremely simple reason why one might stay in a soul-crushing profession that isn't mentioned in the piece. Money. Perhaps I was afraid to leave engineering for fear of losing prestige at the beginning, but as someone who's parents survive on social security and always worried about money, I am deathly afraid of losing it all, and losing the ability to provide for myself and others. I don't care if others judge me for my job, but really don't want to give up the paycheck. I'm definitely willing to take a big pay cut to do something I like more, but I've worked service jobs and they aren't any more fulfilling, they just pay less (and are less stressful in some ways). Ideally, we could all find something that we love and that pays enough to live without fear, but this doesn't seem to be the case. Just something to think about, but I really did enjoy this piece and will probably subscribe, since I'm excited to read more of your work
So well written. Honestly should send this to the times, they might take it.
This really resonated with me. I can also confirm that STEM fields are far from immune, and most STEM jobs are boring and lifeless. However, there's an extremely simple reason why one might stay in a soul-crushing profession that isn't mentioned in the piece. Money. Perhaps I was afraid to leave engineering for fear of losing prestige at the beginning, but as someone who's parents survive on social security and always worried about money, I am deathly afraid of losing it all, and losing the ability to provide for myself and others. I don't care if others judge me for my job, but really don't want to give up the paycheck. I'm definitely willing to take a big pay cut to do something I like more, but I've worked service jobs and they aren't any more fulfilling, they just pay less (and are less stressful in some ways). Ideally, we could all find something that we love and that pays enough to live without fear, but this doesn't seem to be the case. Just something to think about, but I really did enjoy this piece and will probably subscribe, since I'm excited to read more of your work