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What I was lucky to have was a retired geologist grandfather and his prized amethyst geode that he proudly displayed near his fireplace. That fascination and awe for the shapes of the crystals within that geode has never left me.
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Surprisingly, up to that point, I had never asked my grandfather much about his professional life as a geologist. As I con- sidered my own potential career, I sat with him many evenings learning about his time as a geologist for the State of Michigan and the different sub-disciplines of the geosciences.
In my teenage years, I was clueless as to what I wanted
to do with my life. Upon graduating high school, finding my purpose in life was a time of great reflection and uncertainty. It wasn’t until I became a young adult that I enjoyed finding the repetition and symmetry of nature intriguing. Every summer, I tended to my family garden which was full of sunflowers. The Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio mesmerized me as they masterfully crafted the seed patterns within the sunflow- er head, along with the swirls in the succulents that adorned my windowsill. It was that last summer before I began college courses that I finally realized that I had known as a young girl what truly interested me. All those years of appreciation for nature’s ability to produce such perfect, geometric shapes along with the time spent staring at my grandfather’s geode was a subtle calling for me to get into the natural sciences.
Before I jumped into any big decisions, I spent that fol-
lowing fall and winter looking into topics I was interested in. Most often, I landed back to the same general result; geology. Surprisingly, up to that point, I had never asked my grandfather much about his professional life as a geologist. As I considered my own potential career, I sat with him many evenings learning about his time as a geologist for the State of Michigan and the different sub-disciplines of the geosciences. From there, I knew I needed to take the proper steps to obtain a degree in geology.
By the end of my first semester at Wayne State University,
I was reassured that I was studying exactly what I wanted. I got excited to see the symmetry of the fluorite clusters and was able to visualize the golden ratio along the spiral of an ammonite shell fossil. I eventually learned to identify the other minerals in my grandfather’s geode. During this time, I didn’t know why I wanted to be a geologist, I just knew I had a passion and an eagerness to learn. It wasn’t until my petrology course that I had decided hard rock geology and a focus in volcanology were the fields that interested me the most. It was then that I immersed myself in learning as much as I could about geology.
Without geologists, petroleum fields would go undiscovered.
Natural hazards like earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions would go unmonitored. Mankind’s unwavering mission to construct buildings that allow us to touch the sky wouldn’t rise more than a few stories without the expertise provided by a geologist. To be a part of such a diverse and critically important and demanding field of study is not only rewarding, but it allows me to continue to ask the question “why?”
22 TPG •
Jul.Aug.Sep 2019 After a long day on campus, I can come home and proudly
glance at that beautiful geode my grandfather has since given to me. It now sits near my fireplace, providing me much needed motivation and support. I will always continue to ask ques- tions, but most importantly, attempt to understand the why’s our earth has to offer. One less question I have now is why I want to be a geologist. To be a geologist is to seek the answers to the many unknowns, and I hope to one day answer another eager mind’s “why?” when I become a geologist.
Carly Hoeft, SA-9253 Central Michigan University, MI – MI Section If someone were to ask me to imagine
my happiest self, I would reflect on all my most joyous experiences throughout my lifetime. In all the scenarios, I think of myself somewhere outdoors exploring,
finding new and exciting things, and traveling to all kinds of different places. I think this fantasy must originate from my childhood because I was fortunate enough to grow up with a family that loves to travel. I learned early on that there are constructions so big that they seem to touch the sky, as I saw Chicago’s Sears Tower. I discovered that there are depths so deep that no sunlight could ever hope to reach there as I traveled through Kentucky’s Mammoth caves. I found out that there are great big oceans that left a salty taste in my mouth as I swam off the coast of California. These experiences, along with countless others, are what have shaped me into the curi- ous geoscientist I am today.
It’s not until I began to pursue a degree in geology that
I realized that none of these treasured experiences would be possible without it. The Sears tower was fabricated from the resources geologists have found within the earth. The investigation of the Mammoth caves was made possible through geologic research. With geology, even hydraulic cycles and ocean salinity can be investigated and better under- stood. With the versatile degree of geology, I am excited to unlock more of Earth’s wonders.
I’ve known for a long time that a career in the science field
is for me but, as a freshman in college, finding the right divi- sion of science was always something I struggled with. Back then, I didn’t realize that there was a major that could incor- porate chemistry, biology, and physics and I was lost trying to pick just one to pursue. It wasn’t until I found the Earth and Atmospheric Science department at CMU that I realized I could choose a major that incorporates all three. I began to take geology classes and discovered that I can learn about biology when learning of ancient organisms and their changing lifestyles as Earth evolves. I found that I am granted a look inside the Earth with the tools and knowledge of geophysics. My eyes were also opened to the processes of volcanoes and geologic cycles as I learned about Earth’s chemistry. I know now that I have found a division of science that meets all my needs and curiosities.
The kind of versatility that I’ve found through geology is
one of the most alluring characteristics of the major to me. I love that I am not restricted to one area of science but instead am encouraged to use them in unison to investigate Earth processes. As an example, for a presentation in my class of Low Temperature Isotope Geochemistry, I chose a scientific article to defend that was on the topic of an ancient supercontinent Nuna (also known as Colombia). The study incorporated data
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