I never once used anything I learned during those 4 long and hard years studying

I was one of those who if I wasn't pushed to do something, was certainly not mentored to follow my individual talents and creativity. My true calling in life. 

My artistic and humanistic creativity was killed by my pessimistic and world fearing father. 'Do something technical!' he would always say. 'You'll never get a job by studying art'. Those were the sorts of words I would hear throughout my youth. Of course in a way he was right - but those were just extreme examples, with no middle ground. 

He was a radio technician in the army. He left school with no real qualifications, useless at math and terrible at spelling but the army made something of him. My mother had nothing much to add, being just a housewife rearing 5 kids, also leaving school without any qualifications. A girl who grew up in a council block. She wanted the best like any good mother, but what advice could she give? Where was my mentor? No, I just had a cold, fearful soldier crushing my imagination. 

Drifting aimlessly at age 19, having failed my A levels in the dull and hard subjects of mathematics and physics a year earlier but just retaken them - in the late summer of 1988 I received a letter from Sheffield City Polytechnic inviting me onto a degree course in 'Engineering Physics'. How on the earth did they find my address and A level results? There must have been some information transfers taking place between school and higher education. To fill every available course. To feed the system.

'This unique course in Engineering Physics offers demanding and rewarding career prospects for those who wish to make a contribution at the forefront of technology' the thin green information pamphlet proclaimed. I still have that little green booklet. From over 30 years ago.

The course was called 'Engineering Physics' but in reality it was mostly just theoretical physics. There were practicals yes, but nothing much based in the real world.

In fact the course no longer exists. Has been consigned to history. I checked the 'Sheffield Hallam University' website and all they offer now is the BSC (HONOURS) Physics. 

I never once used anything I learned during those 4 long and hard years studying to make one penny in life. Even after graduating with a 2.1, not the worst classification. I learnt the 'wonders' of the physical world and materials science but have no idea how a boiler or car engine works closer to home. 

Even now jobs for physical scientists are in decline. Not so for medical scientists and computer science/programming/tech support. Many “STEM’ jobs are actually shrinking. Social skills on the other hand are a leading indicator of fields of jobs that are growing and paying higher wages.