I like origin stories. Some of my favorite scientists can point to when they felt a deep pull towards the thing that became their life's work. Idealizing that narrative might be restrictive, though, if we assume such a pull has to occur at a young age for a person to be really meant for something. I love that everyone has a different path to their life's work(s) -- whether it is nonlinear or linear, early- or late-blooming. These days I'm grateful for all the parts of my childhood and scientific training that have shaped me. For me, there wasn't a single, defining moment -- but, if anything is true and constant across the years that hold so many little moments, I think it is that I have always had a tendency to hunker down, and look more closely.
Also, I've always loved to wear rubber boots.
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