I dropped out of tech after a couple years to go study neuroscience. Even though I returned to software, I do not regret for a second that I went to study something so broad and deep and mysterious. I know that huge areas of neuroscience will remain opaque to science for decades to come. I am blessed to have had a few years contact with that complexity and mystery. If anyone reading this, at any age, wants to take biology for a spin, by all means do so. You only live once.
Also to anyone reading this - don't feel compelled to drop out of anything to study something you find interesting. You can very easily find good resources online and do a bit of study everyday.
Humans live a LONG time. While you don't have to "drop out" to study biology, I don't believe that you can fully experience such a field without making it a full-time thing for a while. You can go get a masters in some arcane area of biology and only sacrifice 2-3 years of your 40 year career. I asked if my lack of a biology degree would be a hindrance. My advisers answer was "no", and that a) they need people who think like engineers, and b) you get dropped onto the forefront of knowledge and start chipping your way forward. It is very unlike tech work in that respect.
