In every school, there was something about the unique atmosphere of the science lab that drew me in

Introduction

Where did it all begin? What was the trigger that made me start showing an interest in science? Eventually, I would walk the path to becoming a scientist. It has been several decades now, so it is not entirely clear.

What is certain is that I loved the atmosphere of the school science lab. This place felt more comfortable than any other spot in the school, and among all the special classrooms, it felt like the one that 'fit' me the best. This was the same at every stage: elementary, middle, high school, and university.

Today, that is the story I want to tell.

A place to come to

What made me like it so much? Was it the rare equipment, chemicals, and displays that were so different from home that piqued my interest? Certainly, science labs have a unique atmosphere. They are somewhat mysterious and wondrous spaces. They are the perfect setting for such scenes in school dramas and movies.

That said, they are usually just ordinary places for experiments and practical training. Even knowing that, it was a place where I felt at home and at peace. Perhaps it is better to call it a place that solves and demonstrates, one by one, the mysteries I had always wanted to understand through experiments.

A natural-born...

I think I did have a side of me that was a 'science boy,' but not to that extent. I was in sports clubs in middle and high school, and I didn't take up the invitations from friends in the science club. It was all rather half-hearted. Perhaps I wanted to enjoy that sense of distance. I felt like I was looking at that place as something I admired, while still finding it novel.

Even so, the decision to go into the Faculty of Science came much later. I was actually so undecided about my career path that I considered becoming an art or industrial arts teacher. Both of those involve using special classrooms often. Perhaps I need an extraordinary space. From there, I realized I didn't have the talent of a painter, and I didn't feel like I could make a living as a craftsman, such as making furniture.

So, I chose the path of a teacher to hedge my bets. In the end, I didn't choose either of those, and perhaps I escaped into the Faculty of Science as a university department that allowed me to postpone my career choice even further.

Despite escaping

The Faculty of Science is, so to speak, nothing but science labs like those in high school, everywhere you look. Everywhere you go, if you open a door, someone is conducting some secret experiment, observation, or discussing things using spell-like jargon. You can truly immerse yourself in the world of science wherever you go.

However, what I realized when I got to the Faculty of Science was that my classmates were not that obsessed with science-related topics or work. This was a big realization. Of course, there were friends who were so into it that it was their hobby, but the majority were just ordinary students you could find anywhere. I never thought there would be so many people who chose their career path based on things other than aptitude or interest. Once I got in, I realized that's just how it is.

Since then, I have been convinced that I don't need to be so tense about choosing a job. I learned that as long as it doesn't cause major stress, I can choose from a much wider range of options.

By my fourth year, I had reached the point where I could get my teaching license if I just completed my student teaching, which was one step away. However, I easily gave up on getting the license, thinking that graduate school sounded more interesting, and switched entirely to studying for the graduate school entrance exam. I had thought that becoming a high school teacher (which many of my classmates were doing) would be nice, but surprisingly, I had no regrets.

Advancing to graduate school

By this point, rather than chasing the shadow of a 'science boy,' I started looking at science (though for me it was chemistry) as a profession. The world treated me as someone who had finished graduate school. At the time, there were fewer graduate students than there are now, and every company welcomed us. However, some local small and medium-sized enterprises offered the same conditions as those for undergraduate graduates.

Even in civil service interviews, I was frequently asked, 'Why did you go as far as graduate school?' or 'Don't you have the will to choose a research position?' and I answered as I wrote above. It seems I was that rare of an existence.

Conclusion

I wonder how much interest I actually had in science. I didn't possess the kind of enthusiasm that people call a 'science kid.' Rather, I had a strong nature of wanting to stick my nose into everything and constantly seeking out things that were novel.

It just so happened that it extended to science. That is how I see it now. Do I really have as much interest and curiosity toward nature as I did when I was young? Days of self-questioning.

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