Some of them think they're not smart enough. Some think science is boring. In other words, people believe a lot of myths. Here are some of the most common ones I hear. In general, people who become scientists aren't any more or less brilliant than people who become lawyers, nurses, company managers, journalists or any other kind of professional.
Scientists are just regular people who are curious about the world and life and how they work.
Being a microbiologist means you sit in a lab all day looking at slides under a microscope. But you could also journey to the wilds of the Amazon and Costa Rica seeking out new species of microbes. You could meet some of the deadliest creatures on Earth head-on as you track down killers such as Ebola and Hantavirus. You could float in zero G as you study microbe growth aboard the Space Shuttle. You could watch fish swim past your window as you dive to ocean depths in a submarine.