I started as a biologist. 
A lot of science these days uses computers heavily and I ended up doing a Masters degree at York Uni where programming was high on the agenda.  I got the programming easily (including Windows 3.1 programming) but didn't do so well on the maths and statistics.
I went on to do a PhD during which I realised that I liked Windows programming more than evolutionary biology simulations, and it pays three of four times as much Smiley.

I still finished my PhD (because I'm stubborn) before I started as a programmer in scientific businesses. I gradually moved away from science specific jobs to general programming.

However, I now seem to be a burnout.  Maybe I'd have kept my passion longer if I'd stayed in academia.


Herbie