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Asked by EM on 20 Mar 2024.
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Thomas Swift answered on 20 Mar 2024:
So – I studied chemistry at university – and I still work as an associate professor at university teaching chemistry.
Chemistry – as a subject – is about molecules. It’s about what things are made of and the reactions we can do to change them.
But – a lot of people call ‘pharmacists’ chemists (because the pharmacists used to make the drugs and medicines themselves) – the two professions are completely different.
About a year after I graduated my mum called me up to ask my opinion on a new medicine she’d been prescribed by her doctor. I had to have a ‘chat’ about what my qualifications were, and make very clear I have no knowledge about any drugs or other chemicals her doctors might be recommending.
Up until that point I don’t think she really understood what I’d been studying
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Arno Kraft answered on 12 Apr 2024:
I went to University over 40 years ago to study Chemistry. Since then until only a few years ago, some of my aunts and uncles asked me during family reunions whether I am still at school :). Since I am now doing mostly teaching, what I am doing in my profession has become a bit easier to explain.
More recently, the most frequent question I get from relatives is “When do you retire?”.
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Tom Kitching answered on 15 Apr 2024:
I would say that most of my family and family don’t really understand exactly what I do, but the ones who do are very interested in it. I would always come back with weird stories of things that had happened at work when I worked on the build of an energy from waste project.
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Sophie Shaw answered on 30 Apr 2024:
They think it’s great but i’m not sure they fully understand what I do! They’re really proud as I’m the first person in the family to go to university!
Comments
Andrew M commented on :
They’ve never expressed any particular concern. I think they’re content I’ve found a profession I’m happy in; with reasonable employable opportunites; that allows me to support myself; and that might contribute something to society. I can’t imagine any parent who’s child found a job, trade or profession that did likewise would be unhappy in their child’s choice
Besides, my stepmother shares my profession (my father remarried after I’d graduated), so if my father hasn’t voiced approval with my choice at least he can’t be against it either!
katiespencer commented on :
I work in wildlife conservation – my family are really proud but still a little confused what my job entails! I’m from a more traditional “working class” family and my career is a little out of the ordinary… But they are proud and interested anyway!
Sharron K commented on :
im not sure my mam totally gets what i exactly do at work to be honest but she has been my biggest supporter and i couldnt have gotten to where i am today without her. i was the 1st in my family to go to university rather than just get a job so its been something new.
Michael C commented on :
I work as a lecturer at a university, teaching and doing research. I am the first in my family to go into science and the first generation to even go to university (Mum dropped out of high school and Dad signed up to the merchant Navy when he hit 18) – they are very proud and supportive of me, and even listen to me practice important science talks.
However, I am super lucky because they have always been supportive of me, so I think that they would probably have been happy as long as I was happy.