After the fact, it is easy to see a small number of defining moments that had a big impact on the direction of your life. In my own life, there are a few of them that have had a strong influence on me. Here are a few.

Introduction

First, I should pave the way, and give you an understanding of the background. I was a weakling when I was in primary school. I was even lucky to be alive, having had a bad bout of pneumonia when I was just five years old. I was sick again when I was seven, and after that my asthma was pretty bad. Therefore, I was not involved in field sports, unlike most of the students in the school. But I had a hunger for knowledge about everything, but especially about science. I got copies of 'Look and Learn' magazine every week, and I read everything in them. I was fascinated by the mysteries of the universe, and it was hard to believe that the stories in that magazine were true. But they were! It was unbelievable to me that we were all traveling on an insignificant little planet, revolving around an insignificant star, in an insignificant galaxy in the vast universe itself. When I looked up into the sky, I saw the stars and galaxies up there, and I knew even as a boy, that I was looking far back millions of years. That's a big concept for a little boy, and it gave me a comprehensive understanding of humanity and our small role in that big universe.

Inspector!!

One day, when I was in sixth class in primary school, an inspector came to visit. He was monitoring the class for a while, and writing notes. Then, he stood up and walked to the top of the class. He introduced himself to us, and then started asking us questions. Many pertained to Science and maths – playgrounds for me. The questions got harder, and before long, no one but me could answer them. I was able to answer them all. I remember a few of them well: How far is the sun from us? What is air pressure and what is the air pressure at sea level? The inspector was very surprised that I was able to answer his questions, and he praised me and said that it was the first time a sixth class student had been able to answer them. I was ecstatic. The inspector’s respect had a strong affect on me and it occurred to me that I had a great interest in science and mathematics and that they are worthwhile activities. At school and in the society around me, I saw how worthwhile sport was, and especially hurling. But now, I realized that there was a place for people like me, who were interested in learning, and that was a good thing, despite the opinions of many boys in the class. I felt reassured. It was only once in one day in primary school, but in that hour, some unknown inspector lit the flame of my interest in learning - a flame that grew over time, and a flame that encouraged me to concentrate on scholarship.

Confirmation

I don't remember exactly when Frank Dowling came on the scene as a new student - maybe in sixth class, or maybe in the first year in secondary school. Like the inspector, although he wasn't there for long, he had a big impact on me. He spoke with an English accent, as his family had just moved from England to Ireland. Unlike the other students, Frank did not play hurling, and was very interested in science. I could hardly believe that there was another youngster like me. Before long, there was a special bond between us. We used to have lively debates on science topics, and I learned a lot from him. I knew more about certain subjects in science and he knew more about certain other subjects in science. We were always learning from each other, which inspired both of us. I remember one time in particular, when Frank asked me pointing to my desk: "This table – do you think it's solid?" I replied that it was strong and solid. “Wrong!” said Frank. "There is nothing but empty space, and elementary particles whizzing to and fro, traveling through space at the speed of light!" I was taken back, because what he said went against everything my senses were telling me. But things are not as they seem, and I knew that everything was made of molecules; molecules made of atoms, and atoms made of electrons, protons and neutrons. So, what Frank said made sense, but I had never put those pieces of information together before. It gave me a great insight and I then realized that all aspects of science were very interesting to me, from things so small that they cannot be seen, up to things so big that they cannot be imagined.

Random Teachers!

The few random encounters mentioned above had a big impact on me, no doubt. The people in question did not ignore me completely, but (instead) they gave me recognition and praise and more importantly, they reinforced my attitude about science and its value. Therefore, my self-confidence and interest in science increased from that time. Looking back, it strikes me how important other people are in your life, apart from your teachers and even your parents. I believe in the old saying from the Buddha: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear!"

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It is a pity that I had no sense or experience when I was a boy. If I had been more sensible, I more than likely wouldn't have been bullied constantly for years.

Bullet Head

I didn't have a lot of self-confidence as a boy, because I was a weakling. I was a small, short boy, and I had asthma to top it all off. Or, to put it another way, I was a bully's dream, with little chance of being able to stand up for myself.

I couldn't do physical feats, but I was loose tongued enough. So, I was able to call people bad names and throw insults at them. There were a lot of boys living in a housing estate near the Waterford Road, where I lived. Once, I met one of them, named Paddy Banahan, and I immediately noticed that he was almost bald, because he had received a buzzcut, which you rarely saw at the time. So, I called this guy Bullet Head, a nickname I screamed at the top of my voice the next time I saw him. I was happy with myself after that, and then I put it out of my head. Unfortunately, the damage was done, and there would be a high cost to pay for that bit of fun, I must admit!

Quinn looking for me

There was (and still is) a housing estate called Larchfield within a donkey's squeal of the Waterford Road. Usually, when I was going down to town, I would go through the same estate as a shortcut. The next time I went through the estate, I was met by a small contingent. In the blink of an eye, I was surrounded by them, with no way to escape. My heart almost jumped out of my chest with fear, but I was trapped. The leader was a boy named Tommy Quinn, and the other boys were in supporting roles. Quinn began with my interrogation. Where was I going? Why? Was I kidding him? Looking at him? Questions like that, imposing his authority on me in front of his squad. My answers didn't matter, because he didn't accept them at all. Suddenly, he hit me in the gut, and I couldn't stop him. He then continued, asking me questions and then giving me a proper beating. Before long, I was in a heap on the ground with my nose bleeding, and I was injured and in severe pain. Then they all attacked me and beat the shit out of me. The demons left as quickly as they came, and they left me on the ground, in a bad state. It was a great way to get to know my neighbors!

Lessons Learned

In the school of life, lessons occur all the time, but you need to pay attention to learn them. If you don't learn a lesson, you will make the same mistake over and over again until you do learn it! I learned a few lessons from this bad experience, and I never forgot them afterwards! They were captured well in a few proverbs, as it turned out!

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you!

I had no idea that there would be ongoing implications after I picked on Paddy Banahan. I hurt him, because I called him an ugly nickname, for no good reason. I bullied Paddy, because I thought he wasn't strong, and wouldn't be able to get revenge. Didn’t I misread that story! And doesn’t pride go before the fall too! Despite my cleverness at school, I was quite naive in other ways. In any case, I had no idea what the consequence of my foolishness would be, or why.

Look before you leap!

Decades later, I know very well what happened and why. We belonged to different classes, me and Paddy – with me in the middle class, and Paddy and their neighbors in the estate in the working class. When I insulted Paddy, himself and his friend took it that I was insulting them all. They thought I was acting in a superior way, as a middle-class boy. I did not understand the kind of connection between them, and more importantly, I did not understand the primal instinct that I had awakened in them. I didn't realize, either, that the class in question had different rules and different values. In particular, violence was more common and more acceptable in the working class than in the middle class. I was completely ignorant of matters like this, and I paid dearly for that mistake.

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