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Black Holes and Revelations!
It can’t have escaped anyone’s notice, unless you have been doing a digital detox for the last few days, that one of the world’s greatest minds in science died this week. Yes, none other than Stephen Hawking, theoretical physicist, writer, teacher and pop culture icon.
Icon you cry? Yes, indeed. Hawking has not only appeared in science-based programmes like Star Trek and The Big Bang Theory, he also was a regular guest on The Simpsons! You know you have made into popular culture if you appear on The Simpsons!
Many things have been said about Stephen Hawking in the last few days about his amazing intellect and curious mind. Not only did he pioneer research and theoretical physics of black holes at a time when no one else would touch it with a barge pole – dead end, they said. He also wrote the book A Brief History of Time, a book known as much for the fact that the majority of its readers found it so difficult to read they couldn’t finish it, as for the ground-breaking scientific theories. Stephen Hawking, a man so intelligent he was able to work out that black holes aren’t actually black!
But it’s not just his scientific studies and teaching that has given us pause for thought this week. It is not just his intelligence which we will remember and respect when we mention his name in the future. We will remember other aspects of his character, without which, we may very well have never known much about him at all – perseverance and determination.
The more you think about Hawking and his accomplishments, the more respect and admiration you find yourself feeling. This is person who you can never say,” of course Hawking was successful, it’s alright for him”, because he faced a situation which tested his perseverance to its limits.
At the age of 21, Stephen Hawking was told he had a rare motor neurone disease. A disease which left him intellectually aware and fully capable in his mind, but progressively less able in his body. He was eventually confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak and ultimately unable to communicate except through the movement of one muscle in his cheek. And yet this man wrote several books. True, he collaborated with many people in the writing, but in order to communicate his ideas, he must have shown near limitless perseverance!
How many times have you had an idea for a book, or sat there in front of your homework, pen in hand, claiming “it’s too difficult to put my ideas into words”? Next time you are in that situation remember Stephen Hawking.
At 21, Stephen Hawking was expected to live no longer than another 2 years. That would have meant that he would die at 23 years old. But this week, when he did finally leave the planet, he was 76! Stephen Hawking was determined not to let problems get in the way of the things he wanted, and therefore, found ways around them. He was determined that his disease would not control him and as a result did things many others have never achieved. Not only did Stephen Hawking win a number of prestigious prizes for his scientific work, he also held the same professorship position at Cambridge University as Sir Isaac Newton!
How many times have you chosen not to pursue a passion or an ambition? How many times have you let your situation limit your choices and your chances? Next time you find yourself doing this, think of Stephen Hawking and the determination which gained him and extra 53 years to enjoy life!
You don’t just have to be a scientist to understand what Stephen Hawking has given the world. On the one hand, he has been the British scientific community’s brightest mind and advocate for education. On the other, he is a man who has repeatedly shown that with perseverance and determination almost anything is possible. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be things to endure along the way, but if Hawking shows us anything, it’s that it has got to be worth it to put in the effort.
In remembrance of Professor Stephen Hawking – 1942 – 2018.
Mr Masters
Assistant Head
