When I entered 7th grade at age 11, I sucked at physics. In fact, I sucked at basically all sciences - partly due to the fact that our science classes in primary school were pretty bad, but partly also because I had no interest in them and was overwhelmed with the new school, new teachers, new classmates. I was good at German, English, and Spanish, and decent in all other subjects. That was okay for me.
In eighth grade, we left the realms of the rule of three and drawing triangles and were introduced to functions and variables. Things started to make a lot more sense, and I began to appreciate the logic of numbers. Within a year, I went from a C to an A in maths. I still dreaded biology class, and somehow endured chemistry and physics. We were doing mechanics at the time and I remember that at the time, I didn’t really find that important.
In grade 9, I got “A Brief History of Time” for my birthday, shortly before Christmas. I read it, and I loved it. It completely changed the way I looked at physics. I understood the appeal of it, and I was so intrigued by everything I read that my attitude towards science itself changed. I think my teachers were quite shocked when I suddenly started putting so much more effort towards the science classes. I favoured physics and maths but got pretty good in biology and chemistry as well. I finished year 9 with only As and Bs on my report card, in the top 3 of my class.
I continued reading popular science books. I remember sitting at the dentist’s in 10th grade, waiting for my appointment and reading an introduction to quantum physics, making notes in the margins and getting weird looks from the other patients in the waiting room. I was sent to get an x-ray. The dentist asked if I was scared or had any concerns, and I said that I’d just read something about radiology and if he could explain to me how the x-ray machine worked. I chose advanced physics as an elective in 10th grade, doing presentations about dark matter and black holes. It was pretty awesome.
For grade 11, we had to choose two advanced classes for our A-levels. When I told my parents I wanted to do Latin and maths, they tried to talk me out of choosing maths first - why didn’t I do German, or English? It would be much less work and I was practically guaranteed good grades. I remained set on maths, so they relented. I loved every second of that class. I still had physics and got straight A’s. In our graduation yearbook, I listed “physicist” as my dream occupation.
I enrolled in a full-time physics degree as soon as I had my A-level certificate. I changed my major a year later, to English because I missed it and to maths because I felt I was better suited for that, but I never lost my love for and interest in physics. To this day I listen to open lectures and read the German version of Scientific American.
I went from zero interest and an almost failing grade in both maths and physics to being a straight-A high school graduate first enrolled in a physics, now in a maths degree. There were certainly many factors that contributed towards that happening - my parents’ support of my decisions, engaging teachers, joining studyblr, and many others. But for me, the first step that got everything else into motion was Stephen Hawking and his inspiring, openminded approach to science, and his mission to bring science to everyone, not just scholars of the subject.
Stephen, I want to thank you. I doubt I’d be where I am today without your work and your attitude. Your work will continue to inspire people everywhere, presumably for generations to come. Rest in peace.
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