As I get older, I like to reflect on what’s been important in my life. It’s a long list. I probably don’t share enough of the stories that have made me who I am. While we are always changing, we can’t ignore the impact of our earlier selves.
As a kid, I was afraid of authority figures. This changed a bit when I told my fifth-grade teacher that I wanted to switch to a different class, one with more of my friends. Mr. Lopez convinced me to stay in his class, and it worked out just fine. Still, it was the reaching out that mattered.
In Junior High, boys made fun of me in gym class. They made it clear that I was never cut out to be a sports star. I was okay with that. I had my science fair projects. I had prepared a Tour of our Solar System on a computer! I was already an academic star. And I knew I could do more. If only it hadn’t given me a reason to struggle with working out to this day!
The summer after 11th grade, I attended the Frontiers of Science Institute at the University of Northern Colorado. There were no words to describe the impact of this experience! I switched projects when things weren’t going my way. I watched the tracks of charged particles moving in a bubble chamber. I studied the motion of a pendulum. I embraced a tangent, leading several students to create a beautiful rendition of the musical number, I Sing the Body Electric, at the luncheon for our sponsors. I contributed to a faux-scientific paper on the dynamics of romantic love. I ended the summer with my love of physics intact!
As a camp counselor, I marveled at the amazing performance a student prepared for our talent show, singing the song Stars from the musical Les Miserables. Here’s another version!
While in graduate school, I attended the Montreaux Jazz Festival. I worked at CERN. I decided not to get a PhD, after only passing the Qualifying Exam at the Masters level.
There are so many more stories. There are so many more details I could share!
Christmas Day is a good time to reflect on the important moments in our lives.
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