My Path into Physics (at MIT)

Aviation is my first passion. I got accepted in a flight school college degree right after high school. With a flawless timing for my graduation, my first company just started a program where they would hire right out of college. I started to fly for a regional airline, right away. With a decent income and tons of time off, I wasn't seeing myself stopping my education curriculum there. I started a certificate in aeronautical engineering, which was more or less the equivalent of a minor. I was looking at doing a mechanical engineering degree, but my university was demanding too much of a commitment for my schedule and I couldn't reconcile my job and this program. So I kept on looking at other options and found atmospheric sciences. I liked my meteorology classes in flight school and I thought it could become a relevant asset to use for a possible second revenue source, or a less traditionnal path for a commercial pilot. Here I start my undergrad degree, a BSc with a major in atmospheric sciences. Being a branch of physics, I realized how curious I was for this field overall. You can find physics to be the root of anything that you will ever experience in the universe, which fascinated me. I minored in physics. Although I loved those two fields of study, I felt I was moving away a bit from my first passion, and I couldn't see how I could wrap all my experience into a unique job. At this point, I was also trying to get into flight testing. In order to move closer to my goal, I enrolled into a MASc in aeronautical engineering, which I'm just about to me done with (last two semesters). My research is on flight control systems. Because all my experiments are simulated, I've developped my skills around modelling, simulation and control theory, and consequently, computer programming. In the mean time, I got hired at a legacy carrier and now fly all across North America and a bit of Central America. It would be pretty hard to quit the job that I have now because of the wage, the working conditions and the pension are too good. It would be hard for me to find something equivalent anywhere else. But, I do believe I'll be able to have a secondary occupation with all my experience, at some point in the future. It could be a personal project with computer programming. In my city, there are a few aircraft simulation companies, some side-work could be a possibility. A bit like you, I don't love only one field, but I love to learn and develop many different skills. AI is at the top of my list when I complete my masters' degree. Keep up the good work, I like your channel!