"Your natural inclination towards academia or mechanical/practical skills seems aligned to what you are exposed to as a kid, or what your parents thought was important."
What rubbish!
My grandad was a engineer and an amateur clock maker. He was always tinkering with something and I was always right there at his side 'helping'. I lived with the grands for my early years. I used a vice almost as soon as I was tall enough. Also, later, my dad would ask me to 'help' him rewiring the house, this in the days when it was acceptable for non qualified electricians to get involved with wiring.
However, I have no inclination nor aptitude for any kind of practical stuff whatsoever.
I was simply another useful pair of hands.
My job? Psychologist ... and aptitude tester.
