I have been friends with Pamela Gay, of Star Stryder and Astronomy Cast, for many years. I’ve always been a fan of her style: she’s a great teacher, writer, and outreach pro.
She just gave me two great reasons to like her even more. She’s written two fantastic posts in a row: Majoring in Astronomy: Like English, but more expensive and Caring for students: 1 in 4 need more.
I have nothing to add about the second post — though I have been in a similar position, where I’ve wanted to scream my lungs out about some issue but it would have been totally inappropriate under the circumstances (such as on my blog) — but to the first I do want to say something.
When I was in high school, the worst future I could imagine for myself was toiling away in a cubicle somewhere, or even in any kind of office-like setting. Some folks can do that, and they love it. That’s fine! It just doesn’t work for me. It’s not that I thought I was due for something better; it was just that the thought of that was stifling.
Nonetheless, in a sense that’s what I did for several years. Oh, I wasn’t in a cubicle per se, but I was in an office environment working for and with others. It turns out that reality wasn’t as bad as my high school fears; I could survive in an office setting. But somehow I was never really comfortable.
Now, I’m not a loner by any means, but somehow that sort of thing just never really fit me. I liked the people I worked with, and for the most part I liked the work. The environment was usually pretty good (well, Goddard Space Flight Center has all the hominess of a rural prison, but Sonoma State University was quite lovely, and the offices we had were great). And honestly, the majority of the stuff I’ve done over the past 14 years since getting my degree has been really interesting.
But somehow, deep down (and sometimes not so deep), I knew I just wanted to write, to give talks, to make videos. On my own, or at least unfettered to the point where I could say what I wanted, when I wanted, and how I wanted. Sure, I’ll always want and need an editor, but I wrote the book the way I wanted to write it. I write the blog the way I want to write it. I give talks the way I want give them. I make my videos the way I want.
Leaving a salary and moving was a huge risk, and it still is. And as much as I liked doing what I did before, doing this now really was the right choice for me. It’s like I’m finally doing what I have always wanted to do.
So read Pamela’s post about majoring in astronomy, and think on what you’re doing with your life right now too. All our stories are different in subtle and important ways, so perhaps there won’t be a direct imprint of what she wrote on what you’re living through. But it certainly resonated with me.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I wish I could turn watching TV, playing video games, watching movies, taking walks, drinking beer, sitting around campfires, and reading books into a career.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Great Post, and i can definitely relate. Relying on or planning to rely on skills that offer little no sure job opportunities for a living is a pretty scary thing. But if it’s something that you love, something you just can’t imagine not being a big part of your life; it’s worth it.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Oh noes! I works in an office and am not teh something betters!
No wonder you like Obama.
Listen, astroboy, I design things that go into space rather than just looking at what’s already there. Some of those pretty pictures you post probably passed through a communication link I helped create.
I’m teasing… mostly.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:23 am
The point is that we all have to follow our own paths. If you don’t like the road you’re on, get off. If you like it, more power to you!
I read Pam’s post last week and agree that it was great, and as a teacher the post about students was spot on the money as well.
You both rock!
May 15th, 2008 at 9:27 am
It’s definitely important to do something for a living that you love if you can. Sometimes economics gets in the way. It also takes courage and support from others. I have the highest respect for those who follow their dreams. Those types are my heroes. I’ve been comtemplating a similar thing, but the economics or raising a family have been a brake. Maybe some day.
And Pamela does rock! Her (and Fraser Cain) podcast led me to this site. Their enthusiasm reinvigorated mine.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:37 am
That is exactly how I felt when I chose to major in astronomy.
And that’s also why I was careful to pick a college with a great physics program, and access to a great engineering program, so I would always have something practical (and fun) to fall back on
May 15th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I like Pamela’s article on English Majors and Astronomers (I’m an English major >.> ). I agree with the first part of her STD article, and definitely feel that more education and awareness needs to be raised. Matters of physical health and personal wellbeing needs to _not_ be taboo and verbotten.
But I really don’t like her conclusion that it’s all the men’s fault. Can you imagine a male professor discussing these same statistics and saying it’s not his place to lecture the men on sex, so he’ll go “chew out the women” when they are being “ditzy girls” and “then make it clear to them what language and behavior isn’t acceptable” ? It’s a pretty startling example of sexism.
Pamela’s right that a fundamental part of this problem is respect — both self respect and respect for others. But it’s disrespectful to tip-toe around talking about sex with women, but to feel justified in chewing out men, just because they have different chromosomes.
The women who’ve been raped are victims, and rapists deserve to be executed rather than chewed out, but women who have contracted STDs due to unsafe consensual sex are no less at fault than the men, and equally deserving of being ‘chewed out’ and made aware of reality.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:42 am
QD, you crack me up! I love it! Keep up the good work on those comm links. We dig the images they pipe through.
Colin, you’re right, they both rock! I read both of Pam’s posts and agree wholeheatedly. She’s a great writer, and a frakkin’ humongously great teacher, I’ll wager.
Oh, yeah, I like Obama too!
guilty as charged…
Richard Drumm the Astronomy Bum
…in Charlottesville as always.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:20 am
“Goddard Space Flight Center has all the hominess of a rural prison.”
One of the problems with Arial font is that sometimes an “m” can be confused with “rn” (r-n), which would give the above sentence an entirely different meaning…
May 15th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Well, QD, I was very careful to say it’s not for me, but it works quite well for others.
I prefer my office at home. I have a view of the Flatirons, I can blast Stravinsky as loudly as a I want, and I don’t have to wear pants if I don’t wanna.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Well, I feel like I need to speak up for the road not not taken.
I work in an office doing sales and marketing. I generally enjoy the work. There are good days and bad days but I could say that about most of my endeavors (and I do).
I have had a love of astronomy and science since I built models of the lunar lander during the Apollo missions. But life is a complicated thing. While I admire anyone who can find the focus, passion and courage to live their dream, I have found that I haven’t always had all three at the same time. More importantly, my life is bound up with others (my family) and my love of astronomy and science is only a part of my life.
I believe a challenge equal to that of living your dream, is the challenge of a blended balanced life where all of your dreams get their time in the sun (or the middle of the night for the astronomy dream).
I work hard and earn a fairly good income. I own a couple of telescopes and enjoy observing whenever I can. I have a nice home which is far enough away from the city where I’m able to get some decent skies and good seeing. I read science blogs over lunch. I’ve a total of five children who are reasonably well cared for (they’re never actually satisfied but that’s another story) and they are all in, or on their way to college. We vacation once a year and everyone is generally well-taken care of. I get a tremendous amount of joy and satisfaction from all these things. Were I to work as an astronomer, I dare say I would not be able to afford some of these.
So I try to indulge all my passions: my wife, my family, my job, my love of science, my enthusiasm for all things technical, my fondness for teaching, my belief in education, my commitment to my community, my enjoyment of magic tricks and juggling, classic rock and roll, Revolutionary War history, fine art, F-Troop reruns and more. It’s a challenge. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be a professional astronomer. I’m sure I would love it. But we all get just one life and we all do the best we can to fill it as well as we can, with the people, activities and things we love.
So I do admire every person who has found the thing (or things) they love and are doing them. But for a lot of us it’s an ongoing challenge of a balance of many things. It is not giving up everything for one thing. And that challenge is equally valid and its accomplishment equally successful. Although I work in an office, I am happy to report, my soul is not dead. It’s not even sick. I suspect those of us who are not professional astronomers or poets or botanists or marine biologists, who enjoy science, and science blogs, and are in fact doing ok, particularly when we stop and consider all the things we do have and the wonderful, chaos that life is.
Here’s one for the road taken.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Very interesting topics: my last and only job was teaching art in a small rural, public high school, which I did for 34 years. I knew in the tenth grade that it was the career I wanted; based upon several teachers who mentored me throughout my early schooling. I loved the job and the kids were always interesting; I did have the usual gripes about the administration and some of the school board decisions and less often about a boneheaded parent. I’ve been retired several years, now. However, I don’t miss it enough to want to go back – unless I could start anew at the age of 20 or so.
Pamela’s remarks about women indicate an ongoing problem in this country, which I dealt with throughout my career: it is that we are largely a paternalistic society which still reinforces the lesser treatment of over half of our population. It was not much different in the public schools – even though most elementary teachers are women. That some of the major religions continue to discriminate against women is also in play, and both factors encourage the subservient attitudes some women adopt around men. The “good ole boy” attitude was and is still prevalent in too many areas of our society. Discrimination is still a closely knit part of the social fabric of this country.
I believe the only way to break down these attitudes is to begin educating boys and girls about social and gender discrimination early – at least no later than the sixth grade. And I think a short history lesson during the first week of a course emphasizing the the accomplishments of women in whatever discipline is being taught with ongoing references throughout a semester, and beginning in jr. high school, would be worthwhile. Instilling a sense of pride and worth in youngsters – especially girls – can’t be a wasted effort. I don’t think there has to be a course developed; new teachers might be schooled on including more references to all minorities – but emphasizing women – as a part of any teaching college’s curriculum.
If boys/men get the idea that girls/women can be equally able, capable and want only to be treated humanely early on, perhaps some of the bad attitudes and behaviors could be extinguished. I have no hope for the religions which value women as lesser beings, however.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:16 am
This is why I am pursuing a phD in paleontology…………..it sure ain’t for the money. Ultimately I want to be happy, and a high paying industry job sure isn’t what will bring me there.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
If boys/men get the idea that girls/women can be equally able, capable and want only to be treated humanely early on, perhaps some of the bad attitudes and behaviors could be extinguished.
Yeah, some day a woman may even have a serious chance of running for President. Can you imagine? Now pass me that moonshine while I warm up my Stanley Steamer.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I prefer my office at home.
Actually, I telecommute quite a bit these days. 15 Mbps actually makes X-Windows possible. Thank you, FIOS!
I have a view of the Flatirons,
I can see my lawn. It’s a lovely brownish green since were supposed to be conserving water here in So Cal. Sometimes there’s a squirrel.
I can blast Stravinsky as loudly as a I want,
I just put the old iPod onto random play. Might be classic. Might be progressive rock. Might be the Christmas music I keep forgetting to take out of rotation.
and I don’t have to wear pants if I don’t wanna.
Wow, right into Too Much Information territory!
May 15th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
It is indeed tough to give up that salary and go out in the world to make your own way. I did that 8 years ago, and it was scary and exhilirating. And, like you, I can work in my jammies if I want, as long as I get my work done.
I still would like to go back and get that PhD in astronomy; just too busy right now writing about astronomy to do it… maybe I’ll pull a Brian May one of these years.
As for the women’s issues — Pam’s right on, even if she does have to twit the boys a bit. Students of both sexes need to more common sense education about relationships and sex, not preachy crap.
It would be nice if there was some respect for women in the U.S., but really, it’s tough to see it now that we have a woman running for president. She has been subject to unequal treatment by the media ever since before she began her run. And, for those of us who are old enough to remember far worse treatment, it’s just the same old sniggering BS from the “boys” who run things… for that reason alone I’d vote for Hillary — just to send a message that women have been treated like crap by paternalistic societies for 10,000 years or more.
Other than that, I’m not wild about her politics, but it would be such an affirmation to have a woman taken seriously in this country… just. frickin’. once.
Ya know?
thanks for pointing out those entries, Phil.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I once worked in small business. Met a lot of people who were clearly happier running their own businesses than being another “resource” to be tracked and controlled by HR.
Indeed, I earn a lot more money now but spend my days imagining how I could free myself from the shackles of it. The lesson I took home from those days though was that culture is being homogenized and labelled. A lot of corporations, government departments etc make it extremely difficult to interact with the bereuacracy if your employment section is filled in as “self employed”.
My girlfriend finished her degree last year. English studies (arts?). She had originally entered for biotech but halfway through decided that she didnt want to “lead a soulless existence in the lab.”.
As for the STD article, I left a comment there. I’ve read that the 25% statistic is inflated for political reasons. The original 25% marker was a genuine thing, but miquoatations and the like have screwed it up. Of course, I didn’t research it myself. Bit disappointed in the professor for her sexist beliefs. Girls need to be protected, boys need to be chastised?
May 15th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Dr. Gay is teh kewlness.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Boys are generally taught that they are going to have to earn a living, so they tend to look at the pay prospects when they choose their education. Money isn’t the only determinant, but very few men figure that if their career doesn’t pay very well, they’ll marry a rich woman. (OK, maybe John McCain did). Girls are still given the follow your dream story, and if you can’t make money at it, you can always marry some guy who works in a soul destroying job, being eaten by HR demons and anxiety monsters day in and day out, but who is a good provider.
This doesn’t work out all that well for a lot of women who find themselves without some salable skill to fall back on. That was the great feminist story of the 1970s. All those June Cleaver’s sending their children out into the world and finding that they had empty nests, empty marriages, empty lives, and empty pockets. There is nothing wrong with depending on someone else, particularly someone who loves you, for a living, but the feminist movement didn’t come out of nowhere.
In some part, this follow your dream mantra is a sexist hold over from back when they wouldn’t let high school girls take automobile repair. I have no problem with grown ups deciding to punt things and follow their dream. I have no problem with the handful of highly focused people I have met who have very particular dreams and basically will do whatever it takes. I do have a problem with encouraging people to follow their dream before they have acquired marketable skills. The fact that it is usually girls who are given this advice is particularly rankling.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Dr. Gay is the best – the awesome AstronomyCast is one of my favorite listening pleasures.
I love Pamela…. really, I do.
I dig you too BA, but in a different kinda way – ya know?
May 16th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I once worked in small business. Met a lot of people who were clearly happier running their own businesses than being another “resource” to be tracked and controlled by HR.
Confirmation bias.
Each to his own. I’m just not happy with any implication that one is better than the other. There’s also something to be said for having a large support organization to get things done, solid company backed health care, a large pool of expertise to draw upon, and being able to get that expensive piece of Agilent test equipment RIGHT NOW! I like working on BIG projects that the space industry offers.
I get tired of being told I’m “shackled” or “controlled” and that starting your own business is somehow a lofty high road to Heaven.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
QD,
Thanks SO much for reading things into my comment that I didn’t say and then complaining about what you thought I said. Oh, and godwinning yourself in the process. What will you do for the hat trick?
Go back and read what I actually wrote instead of what you imagined I wrote. And, leave out the Nazi fantasies. They’re so last century.
Kaleburg, that’s an interesting point about girls being told to follow their dreams. I was told that as a kid and as a result I went into science…
May 16th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Thanks SO much for reading things into my comment that I didn’t say and then complaining about what you thought I said.
I aim to please.
Oh, and godwinning yourself in the process.
No, I said at least *you* didn’t Godwin. Talk about reading disorders…
What will you do for the hat trick?
Hitler Cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://fhwang.net/img/hitler_cat.jpg
May 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am
QD, I just deleted a comment of yours where you use a bad word. You should know better. Please show more restraint in the future.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:52 am
I did? Which one? I have no memory of it. Sorry. Sometime I forget where I am and lapse into Slashdot mode.