Cradle to Cradle Ideas = Feasible Career Path

[missfangula]

Hi All,

How do I begin with this long and complicated story? I am a forth year college student majoring in physics. I began college as an architecture student, made some life-altering realizations during first year that it is not truly progress at all, just a rehashing of shapes/art school, was very dissatisfied and wanted to make something truly innovative that worked well following a technical background.

Ended up in physics because engineering did not seem to cover the basics thoroughly enough for me. Along the way, I read Cradle to Cradle by Michael Braungart and William McDonough. I fell in love with the concept; actually, I had developed my own design philosophy before I came across this wonderful book, and it pretty much matched theirs.

I am not happy with physics. It is fascinating, sure, but I feel a certain emptiness brought on by not producing anything anymore. I miss creating things. I miss having an idea in my head and seeing it grow to fruition by executing it.

It it too late in my program to switch majors again. So I will most likely graduate with a bachelor's degree in physics. I have room for a minor, though, if that means anything, or maybe nothing at all, just take it easy.

I would really like to follow a Cradle to Cradle path in my career, and design products, manufacturing processes, buildings, anything in that manner. I was thinking about materials science, but I am not really sure where to begin or what options are even available to me with a physics undergraduate degree.

I think in all reality I am the engineering type who never took the time to explore that side of me, and is not regretting it. I am also the creative type, and miss that very much.

What do you recommend I do?

Thank for any advice,
-miss fangula

 

[bogarts21]

Why don't you try getting a master's in engineering?

 

[Math Is Hard]

I'm surprised you haven't gotten into software development.

 

[missfangula]

Why would I want to go into software development?
How would the transition from physics to engineering work? Should I start taking a couple of classes in it now, or is that just a waste of time and money?

Thanks

 

[Math Is Hard]

Hi Miss Fangula,

I haven't read Cradle to Cradle, but from your post I got the idea that you are a person who likes to design and build things and see them all the way into production. In software development, you have the opportunity to design, build, test, and deploy. I just thought that might be something that you would find very satisfying. I know that I have enjoyed developing the (small) systems I have created, and seeing people use them, and knowing that I have made their jobs easier.

I think you would enjoy a programming class if you ever have the time to take one. It's a good thing to learn, no matter what you choose for future studies or a profession.