So awhile back I accepted an invitation to talk to some high school students about science and why I got into science.  I penciled the date in and didn't think much of it and now its quickly creeping up on me and I've got to come up with some stuff to talk to them about.  As far as scientific content that isn't hard at all as I always have a layman's talk in my back pocket for us, but as for advice and why I got into science that is going to take some work.  They'll definitely be getting the edited for TV version (for length but primarily content) for my path to science.  As for giving these kids advice, its sort of stupid to tell them anything other than to keep an open mind, follow your passion, and that what you set out to do might not be what you end up doing.  But as far as what really drew me to science was my grandmother.  While growing up I remember that in middle school she was diagnosed with breast cancer which she recovered from however it was found in the other breast while I was in high school.  Before her second bout with cancer if you would have asked me what cancer was, I would have shrugged and said, "Fuck if I know."  I was dead set on going to college to study finance or economics (which I sort of did, still only a few classes shy of an econ degree).

But after the news that her cancer was back, I delved into learning biology and I mean learn.  At that time, my total concept of biology was that two people fuck and it might make a person or two (if you are lucky).  After school a couple of days a week, I would take her to her chemotherapy appointments and at night would search on Alta-Vista (this is a period appropriate search engine, fuck off) what chemotherapy even was and how it worked.  In fact my grandmother's cancer is what led me to attend college closer to where I lived versus heading to the other side of the state.  I would still help take her to chemotherapy treatments until it got too bad.  I remembered sitting vigil by her bedsite during her last days with a biology book in hand studying for exams.  I remember the pain pills that she would sometimes take when it was too much for her to bear.  I remember the loss of cognition and dignity.  But I wasn't there to remember her last breath because I had to go take my biology exam.  And I remember her body being returned to the loam from which it was created from.  What I remember the most was the slow decline and loss of a person that I know and love.  Some of us got into science by tinkering around, building stuff, or were inspired by their high school chemistry teacher.  That's not me.  I was inspired by someone that took care of me and raised me to be a better person every day.  This is what keeps me from throwing down my pipet and saying fuck it after something has not worked for the tenth time today.  This is what drives me to get out of bed and make the long drive to work at some ungodly hour in the morning and return back home sometime after the sun has set.  This is what keeps me up at night.  This is my passion.  And its all because of a woman named Sue.

Somehow I have to convey this to a room full of high schoolers.  Let me ask you a question, what drew you to science?