From Physics to Astrology and Back

Finding my path and purpose in the world

Photo credit: Alexander Ozerov via Adobe Stock

My teachers noticed early on that I had a knack for languages and math. I devoured books, grasped mathematical concepts effortlessly, and saw intricate patterns where others saw only numbers and words. As I grew older, I developed an interest in foreign languages as well, but when the time came to choose a path, I pursued mathematics and physics in college. That path led me to graduate school, where I immersed myself in theoretical physics research.

And then — my ascent stalled.

Miscommunications, bad luck, and an uncanny string of “unfavorable” synchronicities conspired to derail my once-promising academic career.

After defending my Ph.D., I found myself at a crossroads.

I had become so bitter and disillusioned with academic life that I decided to leave it altogether. And yet, transitioning into industry — despite having the skills to go into data science or software — held no appeal either.

I eventually hit upon the idea of teaching at a community college. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I loved telling a good story, taking something complex and breaking it down into something easy to understand. I enjoyed working with others…