Mary Hoffmann
Alvin, Texas
"There's still a lot left to be discovered and that's what makes geoscience so interesting"
I was born and raised in Alvin, graduating from Alvin High School in 2015. Since then I have moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas, majoring in General Geology. While at college I have been able to travel across the country to study geology. Classes have taken me to Oklahoma, Montana, Hawaii, and many other cool places to study oil traps, mountain building, and volcanoes. These experiences have strengthened my love of geology and I cannot wait to explore more after graduation.
My Pathway
I always knew I wanted to study math and science when I went to college, and I thought that meant being an engineer. For a solid three years I was convinced I was going to study chemical engineering, simply because I liked chemistry. The summer before my junior year of high school I was given the opportunity to attend an engineering recruitment camp in Missouri. Looking back, it was a bout of good luck that the advertisement flyer came to my house. Without this chance, I would be struggling through chemical engineering just because I thought it was the right fit for me. In Missouri, I was able to see what engineering was really like and was introduced to the subject of geology. At that moment I fell in love with it. I knew then that I was going to study geology and spend the rest of my life surrounded by this science.
The surprising thing is...
When I decided to study geology in college, nobody knew what I was talking about. And as soon as I told them of my intentions, they thought I was just going to dig in the dirt or work at the chemical plants outside of town. Geoscience is more than that though. There are so many opportunities out there for geoscientists in all different fields, and choices keep growing. I have no idea what I'm going to do with my degree, but I know it'll end up being something I love.
Lessons
It's all about what you love. One of the most important things I've learned is that you should explore all of your options, even if you don't think you have any. Don't be afraid to break the mold and try out new things just because everyone else has decided what you should do. One of the best decisions I've made was to try something new.