The One Thing It Takes to Be a (Good) Physicist
You do not need to be a math genius, or a living encyclopedia filled with formulas and natural constants to be a physicist worthy of that name. But there is one quality which really is essential, and you should know about it if you are interested in studying physics or hiring a physicist.
I studied physics at TU Wien (a university in Vienna, Austria, focusing on natural sciences and technology), received a PhD degree, and worked as a post-doctoral researcher for the same university for several years. Throughout all this time I have seen many physics students struggle and eventually give up after investing a lot of time. Or, maybe worse, somehow make it through the courses and graduate without ever reaching the level of actual usefulness. You know what I mean? Some people receive a certain education without ever becoming able to put it to good use. I saw this happen a lot. I saw it from both sides, as one of the students, and later as a supervisor instructing students during their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses.
But what is the difference between the students who struggle a lot, possibly even drop out, and those who make it through the courses without major problems? What separates the ones who do a really good job from those who just barely make it?
