Writing and junk

While there are fears and insecurities gnawing at me more often the not, I'm fairly happy with my academic choices insomuch as they've lead me to much better critical thinking and an appreciation for the effort and magic of science. However, I've been feeling a little regret for not diving deeper into literature and writing. While science and writing are certainly not mutually exclusive (far from it in fact) in a science education you tend to focus more on technical writing and move away from creative expression.

I actually really enjoy writing, an interest that probably grew out of my voracious childhood reading. I'm not a terrific writer, but that's one of the reasons I keep this blog: It's all practice. My goal is to be able to write clearly and compellingly, emulating some of the best writers in the New Yorker and similar publications. It feels a long ways off, but I enjoy the process.

I guess I'm thinking about it today because I'm home bound due to the rain, and I was reading some poetry and rekindling my interest. I was thinking about the poems I have memorized, and rereading some of the ones I would like to memorize; "The Cloud" by Shelley and the "To Be or Not to Be" speech by Shakespeare I have partially memorized, and my favorite, "Loveliest of Trees" by A. E. Housman comes to mind as easily as if I was reading it in front of me.

While I technically have a degree from a liberal arts college and have taken a handful of university level English courses, I never truly invested myself into them. I wish I had now, because while I enjoy my chosen path I feel like I would benefit from having a fuller intellectual background. I am considering starting to move away from science a little bit, and I feel like this decision would be much easier if I was more secure in my ability to think laterally and write clearly.

Hahah I guess I'm whining a little bit. I'm just writing to write right now; I'm curled up watching the rain and listening to a snippet of Burgmüller's "Le Courant Limpide" on repeat (Wii aquarium, so there's some fish swimming around on the TV). It's very nice.