The first time I went online in an internet cafe, I was fascinated by it. I wanted to know how it worked. When I learned HTML in high school, I didn't know I would end up being a Full Stack Developer. But the thrill of finding out was there. It was still there when I wanted to switch fields when I didn't think I had enough motivation to pursue a career in Electronics Engineering after about a year of working in the field (studied Electronics and Communication in college).
So I turned to what interested me and it was the web. So I started refreshing my knowledge. Years later, the internet still fascinates me. I find the web intriguing. The same way that I found data science intriguing recently. Web and data science, both capture my attention and I love working in both fields. Granted that I'm still a beginner in data science and I've a lot to explore. I'm also planning to switch fields to a job in data science. That's because I want industry experience. Tutorials and courses can only take you so far.
This doesn't mean that my love for the web will go away. Moreover, I have a goal I'm working towards. My goals need me to be an expert in the web and data science.
Conventional wisdom says a lot of things. Things that were relevant 2 decades ago are no longer relevant. The notion that you should "find your passion" is bullshit. How will you find it if you don't build up enough experience in it? Reading about a field you're interested in is not enough. What if you found out later that what seemed interesting on the surface is not what you want to continue with.
If you feel that you want to work in data engineering, then do that. It seems like you like a good challenge. This is the era of data and there's still so much that's yet to come. But IF you don't feel like continuing in the field after a few years, you have skills in full stack and devops to fall back on, if that's your cup of tea. If not find something else. Don't let anyone tell you different.