Hypothesis: If one is completely immersed in an absolutely unrelated discipline, the individual exhibits newfound traits garnered from the experience.
Conclusion: Yes, indeed.
It is not easy for me to admit when I need improvement. The last 20 weeks I have spent writing about science allowed me to enter a field completely unrelated to the science discipline. Journalism, while not my forte, without fail, has never ceased to excite me. Using a mass of vocabulary and the right amount of diction allows one to write beautiful and eloquent sentences, much the same way chemical processes react and break bonds to form new and diverse products.
Maybe the two disciplines are not too distinct.
However, when I apply at a future nuclear plant or pharmaceutical company, writing for The Post won’t appear too high on my résumé. My future employer might be more enthralled with my studies in bioengineering and less on writing columns.
But with anything in life, it is comforting to know I am not leaving this position without some hesitation. I have gained a deeper appreciation for another profession, which reminds me about my original motives for choosing engineering.
And what drives my chemical reaction toward a life full of protons and neutrons? I am sure the very same query is pondered by thousands of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors across the country.
After some pondering I couldn’t decide where my allegiance fell, so I decided to enter the field and perform some research of my own.
Last Thursday, I sat uncomfortably in a tiny gray chair awaiting the start of what most know as Campus Crusade for Christ or 180. Most students know something about the largest Christian group on campus, so I entered with some idea of what was to occur. Knowing a shruggable amount of people involved in crusade imparted me with enough exposure to take in everything on my first visit to Morton 201.
Naturally, I figured faith pushes a great deal of people toward one direction. Song after song, speech after speech, I picked up on the underlining message of 180: Be Christ-like. Morality proves a useful catalyst when life decisions need to be made.
While I have the option to construct nuclear weapons, I would much rather spend my time in the confines of laboratories running assays for cancer research.
The next factor was an easy one – mula. It would be nice after spending four or more years in college to come out with a job. Engineering is no different. Chemical engineers are the lucky recipients of the one of the highest-paying salaries, starting at $65,700 upon entering the workforce. And I would be lying if I didn’t say I became an engineer at least in part for the pay.
As a great professor once said, “Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you the things to make you happy.”
Which brings me to my final point, and the reason I embarked on my journey in journalism – I love what I do. Whether engineers are riding their bikes all the way to West Green, spending late nights in the Academic Research Center or starting their senior design project, we adore what we do.
For two quarters I was one of few non-journalism or liberal arts majors who were part of The Post. And even though I cannot recall the last time I wrote a paper for a class, I enjoyed writing columns week after week. Not only could I rekindle my long-lost love of writing, but I was also able to write on topics I knew best. This was the most enthralling part of all.
From tackling string theory, Tom Cruise and Scientology, hybrid cars and the worlds in-between, all of it has been a pleasure. And as I move on to other technical writing careers, I hope everyone has gained a greater appreciation for the wonderful world of science.
Luis Delgadillo is a sophomore studying chemical engineering and Thursday columnist for The Post.