Jack-of-all trades

When I was 10, I talked to my grandpa and told him I wanted to be a fashion designer and an environmental scientist. He explained that these were two very different fields and that there was no way to combine art and science. 

I have always been someone who tries different things and has many interests. As a result, people in my household would say, "Shloka, if you don't pick an interest, you'll be a jack of all trades and a master of none." I didn't understand this then, but the contrast in my interests was evident. In India, where I grew up, we had separate classes for arts and sciences. Sciences were taken seriously, while art was often treated as a hobby.

When I was 12 and wanted to pursue photography and astrophysics, I felt compelled to downplay my interest in photography. While everyone knew of my passion for physics, very few knew about my fascination with photography. We owned a camera my dad bought for family trips, and I fell in love with a Sony DSLR in 2012. I made it a point to use the camera to the fullest, capturing people's expressions through my lens, even though I could only use it on family trips.

My interest in science was well-known, as I actively participated in science fairs and discovered that I enjoyed building things. One of my most enjoyable projects was constructing a rollercoaster from scrap materials to explain the principles of forces. This experience made me realize how easy it was to combine creativity and science, but those instances were rare.

As I grew older, the divide between my interests became more pronounced, and the phrase "jack of all trades and a master of none" loomed, especially when it was time to select subjects in 9th grade. As a 13-year-old with limited knowledge and a few attempts to persuade my parents to support my interest in film, I started an animation course at Khan Academy to learn the mathematics behind it. I even looked at how differential equations are involved while setting the aperture in photography. Unfortunately, my arguments weren't convincing enough to pursue filmmaking then.

In 10th grade, when I was 15, we were required to choose IB subjects. I convinced my math teacher to help me write a paper about hyperbolic paraboloids in nature and architecture, focusing specifically on Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Familia. I presented enough evidence to show the connection between art and science. However, the discussion concluded that if I pursued film, I would need to sacrifice time spent on physics, as filming would take too much time.

At that point, I felt the divide deepening, and my dream of pursuing both fields began shattering. So, I gave up at that moment and started to focus on physics. I applied to universities for a physics degree. However, when I got to university, I realized I hadn't declared a major. I embarked on a journey of exploration.

I discovered that physics only fulfilled some of my interests, so I opted for a broader field, chemistry, which bridges various scientific disciplines. Although I enjoyed it, I still felt unfulfilled, prompting me to return to physics but in a more interdisciplinary manner: applied physics, mathematics, and engineering. Yet, something still felt off, and I explored various engineering paths, but none seemed to resonate entirely.

Eventually, I changed my major entirely and pursued something different: economics and data science. At this point, I still had interests but felt increasingly unfulfilled, as if I were operating on autopilot.

I revisited filmmaking as a hobby and started recording a movie with my friends. This experience made me realize that filmmaking was more than just a hobby; it was essential for unifying my varied interests. 

I chose to minor in graphic design, digital media, and animation, which, for the first time, made me feel closer to merging my passions. 

Later, I discovered the ITP MPS program, combining my two interests. It helped me understand that there are programs aimed at integrating different fields. It also made me realize how fortunate I was to discover this path, as many young adults often have their dreams shattered before they find ways to unify their interests. 

I aspire to create a space that helps young adults explore and create freely, allowing them more freedom to merge two or more fields. My vision is to establish a school-like environment where everyone can combine multiple disciplines and learn in that manner.

While creating this space is a long-term goal, I also want to be at the forefront of leveraging art as a tool for change, using robotics and virtual reality to shape environments, convey powerful messages, and work toward sustainability. 

And a little secret that everyone should know—which I didn't realize until recently—is that the original phrase is actually "a jack of all trades is a master of none but oftentimes better than a master of one."