In the summer before high school, in the year 1984, I looked up at the heavens and beheld a crisp view of the starry sky. As I was staring at this beautiful and majestic scene, I was filled with a deep sense of awe and mystery. This feeling was so deep that it struck my soul to its very center, permeating every fiber of my being.

While in the grip of this powerful force, I began pondering the eternal mysteries that enveloped me:

"Is there a God? Where did I come from? Is there any meaning behind life, and if so, what is it? What will happen to me after I die? Where did the physical universe come from? Is there any meaning behind the physical universe, and if so, what is it? What is intelligence? Is there life out there?"

While pondering these great questions, I was truly humbled by the vastness and beauty of the physical universe. At the same time, the desire to understand all things was swelling within my heart. This deep desire sparked a fierce determination to understand the truth of all things. I told myself, "There is great power in the brain and I will not rest until I figure out the mysteries of life, the universe, and everything." So powerful were my feelings of resolve and determination that I felt as if I was going to war.