I am a scientist. I conjure up what some individuals may perceive as ridiculous and sometimes asinine ideas in order to increase the lifespan of humans by preventing microbes from ruining a otherwise healthy individuals life. While reading the "An incomplete manifesto for growth" by Bruce Mau, I could not help but laugh at the commonalities I share with this individual who makes a living in a field completely opposite of mine (although I consider microbiology to be art for the science geeks).
The first portion of his manifesto in which he states "allow events to change you" reminded me of how I got myself into wanting to play lab rat. Prior to college, I wanted to go 4 years through my undergraduate career and then straight into medical school. I decided to go into microbiology with an open mind, for the subject somewhat caught my interest. As the years transgressed, I met professors who were in love with their areas of specialty and allowed me to enter their world of germs. Realizing why they were so obsessed with microbes, I soon began to share their interest and found myself putting the idea of medical school in the back burner. After all, medical schools will always be there and I still have many years in my scheduled life plan.
The portion of the manifesto that tickled my fanny per se and brought some insight on how I look at my experiments was the one titled "Love your experiment as you love an ugly step child". At my prime age of 24 I have more white hairs than the average man of my age has, and I am sure it is due to my area of work. The countless hours I have spent, seem in vain at times due to errors, unfavored outcomes, and countless amounts of data that just don't make sense. As Mau gracefully states it is of importance to love these God forsaken experiments though, because when it comes down to it, all the eternal days and nights spent on research may some day save the lives of millions.
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