In 1948 I entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Hear the voice of Burton Richter, Nobel laureate and seeker of truth, who once reflected: “In 1948 I entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, undecided between studies of chemistry and physics, but my first year convinced me that physics was more interesting to me.” In this remembrance we hear not only the choice of a young scholar, but the universal cry of every soul standing at the crossroads of destiny. For life is a field of branching paths, and the road we choose shapes not only our own journey, but the fate of generations that follow.

When Richter speaks of his uncertainty between chemistry and physics, he shows us that even the great minds begin in doubt. The young heart is torn between possibilities, sensing greatness in many directions yet unable to know which will bear the richest fruit. This moment of indecision is not weakness, but a natural trial. For choice is the crucible in which purpose is refined. It is only by stepping onto one path that we discover where our passion truly lies.

And so it was that the halls of MIT, alive with inquiry, revealed to Richter that his spirit leaned toward physics. It was not mere chance, but the inner voice that stirred when confronted with the mysteries of matter, energy, and the universe. Here lies a truth for all: the calling of the heart is discovered not in idleness, but in immersion. Richter did not sit idle waiting for his passion to declare itself; he walked into study, wrestled with problems, and through labor found clarity. So too must we engage, for only in the doing does the path reveal itself.

History offers countless mirrors of this same trial. Consider the young Albert Einstein, who wrestled not with equations of fame but with the simple question of whether to follow engineering or pure thought. He took up a humble post at a patent office, yet it was in that obscurity that he uncovered the fire of relativity. Or think of Marie Curie, who could have followed conventional roles of her time but instead chose the difficult, uncertain path of discovery in chemistry and physics alike, transforming science forever. Their destinies were not written until they made their choices—and so it is for all of us.

Richter’s words also remind us of the importance of interest, that quiet but powerful guide. Many choose their paths for wealth, status, or ease, but Richter was led by what most deeply moved him. He did not choose what was most profitable or fashionable, but what awakened his curiosity. This is wisdom: for interest becomes passion, passion becomes endurance, and endurance yields greatness. The fire of true interest sustains us through long nights, difficult trials, and years of unseen labor.

The lesson, then, is this: embrace the period of uncertainty, but do not remain in it forever. Test your paths, immerse yourself in their labor, and listen to the stirrings of your heart. Do not fear choosing wrongly, for even a wrong choice refines your vision and strengthens your resolve. What matters is not perfect foresight, but the courage to commit when the truth of your passion is revealed.

Practically, this means trying widely when you are young, and daring to commit as you grow. Seek mentors, explore fields, and labor earnestly, for only in such striving will the right road appear. And when it does, walk it with confidence, knowing that hesitation has passed and clarity has come. Let your choice be anchored not in fear, but in the joy of discovery.

Thus Burton Richter’s words stand as a guide for every seeker: the path of destiny is not revealed in the silence of indecision, but in the noise of struggle, the fire of interest, and the courage to choose. In his choice of physics, he found not only his own fulfillment, but discoveries that would illuminate the universe itself. Let us, too, have the courage to walk the path that calls most strongly to our souls.