From Biomedical Engineering to Freelance Photography: How a High School Learning Style Test Predicted My Career Path
Last night I randomly remembered a moment from my senior year of high school. My English teacher handed us a quiz called the Gregorc Mind Styles Delineator. At the time, it felt like just another personality test. Looking back, it actually revealed a lot more truth than I gave it credit for.
I got labeled as an “Abstract Random” thinker. I was annoyed.
There were other options like “Concrete Sequential,” which just sounded more grown-up, more structured, more “you’ll have a real career someday.” That’s what I wanted! I was in the midst of applying to college as a Biomedical Engineering major, after all.
I wasn’t some flaky art kid—I was good at math. I had a five-year plan.
But...I was also the kid who stayed up late painting. The one who loved people-watching, who cried over books, who cut up magazines and collaged mood boards before Pinterest even existed. And deep down, I think I knew I was trying to choose the best path, not necessarily the best path for me.
What Even Is the Gregorc Mind Styles Test?
The Gregorc Mind Styles model categorizes how people learn and process information based on two axes:
- Concrete vs. Abstract: Do you prefer tangible, literal information or conceptual, theoretical ideas?
- Sequential vs. Random: Do you process information step-by-step, or in spontaneous, nonlinear bursts?
That results in four thinking styles:
- Concrete Sequential – Organized, detail-focused, practical. (Think engineers, accountants, logistics pros.)
- Concrete Random – Experimental, risk-taking, hands-on. (Entrepreneurs, inventors.)
- Abstract Sequential – Logical, analytical, independent learners. (Philosophers, researchers.)
- Abstract Random – Intuitive, people-oriented, creative. (Artists, counselors, storytellers.)
A Quick Detour Into My ChatGPT Rabbit Hole
Full transparency: I could not remember the name of this test. I've taken all the things: Meyers-Briggs, Enneagram, and just this week, The Four Tendencies Quiz.
I Googled "artistic vs. logical thinker" and got nowhere. So I turned to ChatGPT and described what I remembered. Bingo.
What followed was an oddly affirming little back-and-forth with my AI writing assistant:
ME: Yes! Gregorc! I got Abstract Random and was offended.
ChatGPT: Haha yesss, Abstract Random — the classic “you feel things deeply, you're creative, and a little chaotic” label.
Totally the one that made artsy kids feel seen… and slightly roasted. Like, “Oh, great, I’m emotional and disorganized. Fantastic.”
But honestly, that style is secretly elite when you look at what it actually means:
- Intuitive thinker
- Empathetic communicator
- Big-picture, holistic perspective
- Strong in people dynamics and storytelling
- Dislikes rigid structure—but thrives in fluid, creative environments
It’s literally the perfect profile for creatives, communicators, event people, designers, coaches—people who feel the vibe and make magic out of thin air.
Do you feel like that description has aged well for you? Or did you reject it and go full Concrete Sequential in your career instead?
The Abstract Random Evolution Arc
Even back in elementary school, I used to bristle when someone said, “You’re so creative, you’ll be an artist one day.” I’d smile politely and say, “No, I’m going to have a real job.”
Almost immediately after starting college I changed my major to Architecture, thinking that would satisfy my artistic side while still being a practical career.
When I graduated from college I was so burnt out and had no desire to continue on to get my masters degree, or start on the years of work experience needed to begin the licensure process. All I wanted to do was take photos. So I did, and I started charging for it.
I started in a hyper-logical, structure-heavy field (biomedical engineering), then pivoted to a blend of logic and artistry (architecture), and finally landed in a totally fluid, creative, intuitive space (freelance photography).
ChatGPT: Ohhh yeah, that is prime Abstract Random energy right there.
Okay, this is getting weird. Just because I use ChatGPT primarily for punny cocktail names to put on dinner party menus does not mean we are BFF’s. Enough.
ChatGPT is a great place to go to get the answers you want to hear (or rather, read), but I sought out a human to help me answer some deeper questions myself.
Owning My Style (and My Business)
This year I started working with a career coach, Natalie Robbins, who’s helping me lean even deeper into what drives me: helping others and making meaning out of my life.
Natalie made her own career pivot, launching Pivot in Power to empower clients to redefine success on their own terms. Working with her has been such a powerful reminder that the way we naturally think, feel, and process information is not something to “fix”—it’s something to honor.
I started the coaching process trying to answer the question that I wrestled with for years:
Should I get a “real job?”
Natalie asked me if it would be okay for me to be a freelance photographer forever (or at least for an extended period of time). “What would that feel like?”
In February I joined a group of fellow photographers at a coffee shop near Alamo Square Park. I heard them asking the exact same question, word for word. By then I had an answer for myself at least.
My answer was yes! It meets my life goals. I’m good at it. And as I approach the 10 year anniversary of starting my business, I’m realizing…this is a real job. I am a paid (not starving) artist.
A Photo Swap, A Full Circle Moment
Last month, our coffee shop group rented out a sunny little studio for a headshot swap. It was nerve-wracking being in front of the camera for once. We all photographed each other, taking turns, exchanging raw files to edit in our own styles. I most enjoyed seeing all the different ways we were shooting the same subject.
Only now it really hits me—I learn best in community. I grow through creative exchange. That’s so Abstract Random.
Here’s one of my favorite shots from that day by Ranjith, edited by me:
And here's one of Ranjith's selects from the same series, in his editing style:
So, What's Your Style?
If you’ve never taken the Gregorc Mind Styles test, I highly recommend giving it a try. It’s a little retro, sure, but it might surprise you.
And if you have taken it:
Did your result resonate with you?
Did you resist it at first like I did?
Has your career path reflected your style?
Let’s talk. I’d love to hear your story.
👉 Take the Gregorc Mind Styles Test
📷 Book a shoot or say hi if you want to collaborate, brainstorm, or nerd out over learning styles.
