A Passion for the Cosmos: Childhood and Education

This chapter recounts the transformative experience of a young visitor to the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, sparking a lifelong passion for astrophysics. It highlights the contrasts between academic performance and genuine interest, illustrating how support from family and personal determination shaped the speaker's educational journey. The narrative also touches on broader themes of political collaboration, the nature of success, and the importance of engaging teaching methods in fostering a love for science.