Name : Rathi.R
Location : Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu
College : National College
Tiruchirappalli
Year : Second UG
I think I’d have to say that studying geology is my destiny. Sounds too dramatic? Well, let me explain. All through my childhood, I’d never heard about geology. I never really decided what I wanted to do after high school. One day, I wanted to be an actress; the next day, I wanted to be a scientist.
In the end, I chose what most Indians opt for: Engineering. I got into SASTRA University, a very prestigious institution, and I thought this was it — I was meant to be an engineer. But after three months, I realized engineering was overrated. It didn’t interest me at all. I hated what I was studying, and that stressed me out. I decided to quit, but by then, it was too late to enroll in another college, so I stayed home, looking for other options.
It was nearly two months before the next year’s admission process started, and I still hadn’t decided what I wanted to do. I was browsing the internet when I happened to stumble upon National College — the only college in my city that offers B.Sc. Geology course. I saw the word geology probably for the first time in my life. I looked it up on Google, and when it said “study of the earth,” I was hooked. So, I can easily say that destiny brought me and geology together.
My father apparently knew a geologist who works for ISRO, so he approved of my decision. Unlike my father, not many people know about geology. When I tell people about it, they ask me, “Zoology?” People really need to get their ears checked. When my relatives asked me what geology was all about, I had this whole speech prepared — but my dad chimed in and said, “It’s about rocks and soil.”A lot of people have no clue about geology, and that makes me shamelessly proud.
In my first class, we learned about the solar system. The mysteries of the endless universe have always fascinated me. Of course, we’d all studied the solar system in school, but studying it from a geological perspective was new. You won’t believe me, but every time I see the moon, I say to myself, “Those dark regions are called Maria,” and I feel so proud for knowing that.
Geology is everywhere, and when I see something I had only read about in books, I become as happy as a puppy. Last year, during a meteor shower, I was explaining to my parents the difference between a meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid. They didn’t seem to care but at that moment, I knew just how crazy I was about geology. That same night, I saw a meteor for the first time in my life, and I was moved to tears. I called my mom from the terrace and cried, “I saw it! I saw it!” Seeing how excited I was, my sister said to me, “You’ve finally found your path.” And yes, indeed, I had.
During my first semester, I read about Dynamic Earth , and I can still say it’s my favorite topic so far. I still remember sitting in the front row, taking notes while being surprised at the same time. Continents move? I didn’t know that! The dreadful historical stories about volcanoes made it even more fascinating. After all, who doesn’t love hearing stories in class?
I still remember the crazy mnemonics I came up with to learn the geologic time scale. Let me give you an example: in the Pleistocene epoch, Homo sapiens evolved, large mammals and birds were wiped out, and it’s best known for its ice ages. So, to remember all that, I wrote this: “Homo sapiens went to the priest and said they wanted to survive. The magical priest created an ice age and killed those large animals.”Of course, the word “priest” is there to remind me of Pleistocene. Ridiculous? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
If I hear any geology-related vocabulary in a movie, I get so excited to let my family know that I understand it. I’d be on the edge of my seat, waiting for them to ask me something about it—but they never do. Nevertheless, it’s always fun to spot geological concepts in movies, like San Andreas and Journey to the Center of the Earth . When I was watching The Shawshank Redemption , I couldn’t control my excitement when so many mineral names came up. I was smiling so much that my dad noticed and said, “Oh, it’s your stuff, eh?”
In our second semester, we had Paleontology —the only subject I knew about before joining the course. At first, I was thrilled. Ooh, I’m going to be studying dinosaurs! Jurassic Park is one of my favorite movies, so I was eager to learn about dinosaur fossils. To my surprise, we only studied invertebrates—but I absolutely loved it! Besides, I also learned that the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park aren’t completely accurate; they’ve been modified for theatrical effect. That was a bit of a bummer. I’ve always loved biology, so I naturally found paleontology fascinating. If anybody asks me about my favorite prehistoric invertebrate, it’s hands down trilobites. They’re kind of cute, but sometimes, when I think about their actual sizes, it creeps me out. I always imagine a 70 cm cockroach— yuck! That’s enough to make me shudder.
I was so into paleontology that I wanted to dig up my backyard to see if there were any fossils. My parents thought I was crazy. We have a dog at home, so they teased me, saying, “I know what you’ll find there.” I’m a very delusional person—I imagined finding dinosaur eggs in our backyard, and guess what? They hatch! I know I shouldn’t be thinking that as a geologist, but my imagination runs wild. I even begged my parents to take me to Ariyalur, the South Indian haven for marine fossils, but unfortunately, they never did. I don’t blame them, though. I can’t expect them to dig with me under the scorching sun. The truth is, they’re just not that interested in fossils… and I totally judge them for that. Just kidding.
In my third semester, we had Mineralogy —a subject that visually impressed me. But identifying minerals just by looking at them? That’s another story. I had a really hard time during my practical exam and got five minerals wrong. They all look the same!! Nevertheless, it was fascinating to study all those minerals, especially when we’d see a pretty one and go, “Aah, look at that!” I’d take pictures of the most beautiful minerals and post them on my WhatsApp status. Everyone would ask, “What’s that?” and I’d proudly say, “Oh, it’s natrolite.” Of course, I knew they had no clue what that was, and that made me even prouder—I’m studying something so unique. They’d just go, “Huh?” and I’d laugh and say, “It’s a mineral.” That’s always fun.
I feel like a scientist at work when I’m observing the optical properties of minerals under a microscope. Finding the extinction angle is my favorite part. I get it wrong most of the time, but when I get it right, I feel on top of the world. I feel weirdly proud when I’m asked to carry a microscope to the classroom. In my head, I’d be like, “I’ve been chosen” Of course, it’s just me walking across a hallway with a microscope, but let me have my moment.
In my fourth semester, we had Crystallography , and I’ll be honest—it’s not one of my favorites. Understanding Miller indices was a total headache, and I still have no clue how to find them for all the forms. Learning all those symmetry elements was just as confusing. We were given wooden models of the crystal forms, and I have no shame in admitting that I played with them more than I studied. We’d balance one model on top of another, imagine the twin model of Augite as spaceships, and stage epic battles. What’s learning without a little fun, right?
The other major subjects of geology will come up in the upcoming semesters, as I’m in my second year now. I can’t lie—I’m petrified of petrology. Terrible joke, I know. My experience with geology so far has been incredibly memorable and interesting. I’m learning about the Earth, and that feels damn good.
As for my fieldwork experience... let’s just say I don’t have any—yet. I’m going on two field trips next year, so hopefully, that’s when it all begins. I’m not sure if survey classes in our college grounds count as fieldwork, but if they do, I’ve at least taken a tiny step into the field!
I should definitely talk about this one big misconception people have. As a woman studying geology, I’ve often heard people say that recruiters don’t hire women because we supposedly can’t handle working in harsh conditions. One of my best friends even mocked me, saying I’d never get a job. I’m not saying this just to sound like a feminist—but honestly, who are you to decide we’re weak? We can prove ourselves. But first, we need to be given the chance. The field of geology is still dominated by men, and I don’t like that. It needs to change. I’m not ending this essay on a positive note just to flatter anyone—this is exactly how I feel.
Nobody introduces themselves at the end—but this geologist does. Hola! I’m Rathi, an aspiring geologist with zero regrets about choosing geology over engineering. As for my future goals, I don’t have everything figured out yet—and that’s okay. There’s still so much to learn and discover in geology. I just want to reach a point where I can proudly say, “Geology? Yeah, I know a bit about that.”I know I can’t learn everything—but knowing something, really knowing it, is a goal I’m happy to chase for now. There’s so much more to come in my journey with geology, and I’m ready for the ride. This is Rathi, signing off. Bye!
Awesome 👍🏻 dude
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