Generally, I find fulfilment in doing things that are enjoyable which also have positive results. Work pays for stuff but I hate it, so it’s not fulfilling.

Some current things in my life:

Studying something I love even if it’s terrible for jobs.

Somewhat finding my groove in music making, making it feel less like pulling teeth.

Learning to drive in my stupid car that I love.

FYI the requirements differ by state/territory.

In Tasmania you do a free short course and theory test (can be done online) to get your learner license (small fee, L2 -> P1 -> P2 -> full by merging L1 and L2 to L and changing logbook requirements (I think from 100 hours).

L-platers can’t go more than 90kmh anywhere, P1 more than 100kmh, P2s can go as fast as allowed.

Of course you have to display the appropriate plates showing your level on the front and back of the car. Here it’s not required for the plates to be on the outside of the car (heard that differs in other states).

If you go the whole way without any offences you get a free 3-year full license.

This works so well. I use it when I get neuroma twinges or insect bites.

Definitely saved my sleep/sanity a few times.

aeiou

Yeah, I thought that’s what you were insinuating with the /s

Yeah, they’ll be in wild animals and nonhuman fetuses too FFS

Honestly, the fact that engineering isn’t public facing was a big plus! But it’s the tech part. I’m a zoology/maths major that switched to engineering for a bit. I thought it’d be great! I love combat robotics, and I tinker with gameboys ffs.

I actually love tech, but I also think a lot of modern tech is overkill and shouldn’t exist

This resonates. I have boundless wonder for the amazing things in the universe that we get to witness (using said tech) from the molecular level up. I don’t know why this stops at human-created things, as I do like tech too - as a layman.

It just feels like human development and expansion is a zero-sum game with nature, and my heart is with the biodiversity we are destroying. I was so excited for circuits class too.

May I ask what you ended up doing? Did you become disillusioned with the field?

Engineering. Programming. Any kind of field with good jobs or stability.

I don’t know how to articulate it properly, but I can’t care about anything that is human-focused. I tried engineering and it made me extremely uncomfortable; like my soul broke apart and got put back together in the wrong way. Doomed to be a poor af zoologist/plant biologist :(