As a professional scientist, I started writing SF as a way to use the right side of my brain in a life that's far too busy using the other side, while still staying in a field I enjoy hugely! My thoughts on writing for this genre: I try to avoid techno talk in my fics (it would be too easy), but I'm pretty forgiving of TPTB and others for what they do to scientific reality in SF TV/fanfic. We're telling stories here, and it's far more of a crime to come up with poor characterization and plot holes than it is to bend scientific laws once in a while -- just don't bend those laws to get yourself out of poor writing. My last thought to the young writers out there: keep writing, go back and rewrite, proof and rewrite, and spell check! Take your time to get it right. I usually rewrite my fics at least six times, over a period of about two weeks, and I still find errors and inconsistencies afterward. You may not want to do it with the stuff you hate for school, so this is your chance to spend time doing it with something you enjoy. (As a professional educator as well, I can tell you it makes a difference for the rest of your life!)