Peek into a dream

How perspectives change !

I was very convinced that it had to be a graduate study in Aeronautical Engineering that would lead me up to my dreams. Some time later, I discovered that I would most likely choose Astronautical over the former, as it was closer to my love for the science behind the study, rather than the technology behind it.

And before I realised, I have found that Mechanical Engineering is my calling, at the Masters level. A science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Why? Simply because I have always been a physics person. A child who was fascinated with the matter around me, the physical tangible mass as well as the ethereal science founding it. Chemistry never fascinated me, to me it was dry facts and suppositions, without any fun of imagination. Biology to me was all the more dry, who wants to delve deeper into the anatomy when all that matters are means of getting out mentally and exploring.

I was crazy about Physics. I still am. Life to me began on a very imaginative and curious note, with fascinations with the stars, the sky and the space. I was strangely attracted to light, and the absence of it. Sound and its science was not on the top list of interests. As I grew, I learnt more about Chaos and Plasma, Quantum and Classical, Optics and Motion, Nano and what not. I knew since long that all I wanted was to be a complete physics person. A scientist, like those with that constant queer look, absentminded eccentricities, a telescope in front of me, papers all around, books and more books, a look of scholarly intelligence and genius, and a simply brilliant mind.

Kiddish? Maybe not at all.

Practicalities took over, still. A science degree in Physics slipped out of scope after huge discussions and tantrums at home. I was advised to take on something more stable, with more promises. I took on Mechanical Engineering, because of its closeness to Physics. Electricals had never held my interest, biology and life sciences was safer stayed away from. Though I was a Computer sciences person at junior college, I had found in those 2 years that it did not have much to interest me with. Like my dad says, computers are tools to aid, not domains. And well, I knew I could catch up and learn them when I had to. Basic sense and logic was sufficient. My fascinations were elsewhere.

Again, sometimes, I miss the feel that Physics could have shared with me, speaking of it this way brings it closer to the heart. It was so enticing, but just so out of reach. It is a regret that may live on within me, but something that has been subdued due to partial compensation by my choice of undergraduate studies.

A degree in Physics could have led me on to Astronomy. And a second major in quantum. Optics too would have still held interest. Of course they still do, but the walk is going to be through a different lane. I am convinced now that even Astronautics is not going to quench that thirst for science. It is going to have to be Mechanical, with specialisation in Thermal, propulsion and energy studies.

When I move on, I believe that I will catch up onto what I missed.

Till then, my prayers are that dreams, if not all, the most important at least, should materialise.