Anahid Hojjati

From when I had just learned to read and write, I used to write poetry. Granted, after I came to United States, for more than 20 years, I never wrote a poem. But I was always interested in writing. In "ensha" class, I always got great grades. Growing up, I never fixed a TV or radio. I just watched too much TV. So how is it that I am an Electrical Engineer? For high school, I chose "Riazi and Physics", that was a given. My grades in math and science were good, actually they were excellent, I was trying to be modest. Even though I loved literature but there was no way I would go to that field of study in high school, since mostly students with not so good grades went to that field. And then I decided somewhere along the way that even though I really loved writing, but I would have a technical career and just do writing as a hobby.

Later when I started studying in United States, it was easy to decide. It was when dollar in Iran was in black market and as an immigrant; you would have to choose a career that enabled you to get a job easier. Medical field was out of question. I physically get sick when I see injured people or people who are gravely sick. So I chose Engineering. But then why Electrical Engineering? I was interested in Chemical Engineering because my dad taught Chemistry and I liked the subject but then there was no Chemical Engineering degree offered in our university. Therefore, Electrical Engineering seemed a good choice especially since it was 1980s and Electrical Engineering was a vibrant field. I am not sorry about the field of study that I chose and like the fact that I get to trouble shoot the systems which is what I like. I am not interested in small components at the board level but trouble shooting systems appeals to me. I even extend it to people from time to time.

Our kids who were born in Diaspora have more choices. In majority of cases, they are not under financial pressure that we faced in late 70s, and 80s. Also their better English skills, or another language depending on where they live, enable them to have better chance in a wider variety of fields. That is why nowadays, I hear my friends tell me that their kid is studying engineering but his love is music and that is what he/she will probably do. Or we have more Iranians who are actors, comedians, writers. I even have some friends who are in their twenties and are writers. Sure, many of them have other jobs too but they get to spend much more time on their writing when they are still young. I would like to know how you came up with your career? Is there some interesting story behind it?

My guess is that for most people, especially those in their mid forties and above, the stories tend to be similar. They were immigrants, so they decided to become doctors/engineers because there was more money in that. I am interested in all stories especially the cases when there was a calling. For instance, the person used to style others' hair from when they were not even 10 and that is why they became a hair stylist. Or they always dreamed about being a doctor or sadly lost a loved one in an early age and that was their impetus for becoming a doctor. Will you please share with us, how you chose your career or was that your career that chose you?