George Sivulka

There's completely separate stories there, but I think... How do you cold-cool NASA? This is actually a very good story. I wanted to be an astronaut. That was my number one goal, and I was hell-bent on that. And so by the time I was, I think, around 15 years old, I was going to high school in New York City, an all-scholarship school where the alumni paid for everything.

There's completely separate stories there, but I think... How do you cold-cool NASA? This is actually a very good story. I wanted to be an astronaut. That was my number one goal, and I was hell-bent on that. And so by the time I was, I think, around 15 years old, I was going to high school in New York City, an all-scholarship school where the alumni paid for everything.

I was kind of tracking academically really strong, and I wanted a NASA internship. And they were offering them to college undergrads or graduate students. And so obviously, I applied and got rejected five times. And then there was a snow day in February where my school was closed. I commuted into the city.

I was kind of tracking academically really strong, and I wanted a NASA internship. And they were offering them to college undergrads or graduate students. And so obviously, I applied and got rejected five times. And then there was a snow day in February where my school was closed. I commuted into the city.

I was kind of tracking academically really strong, and I wanted a NASA internship. And they were offering them to college undergrads or graduate students. And so obviously, I applied and got rejected five times. And then there was a snow day in February where my school was closed. I commuted into the city.

I actually showed up in front of their New York City office, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. And I demanded that they let me in. And the front door security guard was like, you know, kid, get the heck out. Like, what are you doing? You don't have an appointment. Like, you know. I printed my resume out on the nicest paper. I'm wearing a suit. You've got to let me up.

I actually showed up in front of their New York City office, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. And I demanded that they let me in. And the front door security guard was like, you know, kid, get the heck out. Like, what are you doing? You don't have an appointment. Like, you know. I printed my resume out on the nicest paper. I'm wearing a suit. You've got to let me up.

I actually showed up in front of their New York City office, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. And I demanded that they let me in. And the front door security guard was like, you know, kid, get the heck out. Like, what are you doing? You don't have an appointment. Like, you know. I printed my resume out on the nicest paper. I'm wearing a suit. You've got to let me up.

And he kicked me to the curb. And so I actually sat outside. It's like 110th Street, Manhattan. And it was snowing. It was like so, so, so cold. And I didn't know what to do. I started crying. And I actually called my mother because I was like, well, I'm going to come home. And she's a salesperson. She works in medical sales. She picked up the phone and said, listen, no, you're not going anywhere.

And he kicked me to the curb. And so I actually sat outside. It's like 110th Street, Manhattan. And it was snowing. It was like so, so, so cold. And I didn't know what to do. I started crying. And I actually called my mother because I was like, well, I'm going to come home. And she's a salesperson. She works in medical sales. She picked up the phone and said, listen, no, you're not going anywhere.

And he kicked me to the curb. And so I actually sat outside. It's like 110th Street, Manhattan. And it was snowing. It was like so, so, so cold. And I didn't know what to do. I started crying. And I actually called my mother because I was like, well, I'm going to come home. And she's a salesperson. She works in medical sales. She picked up the phone and said, listen, no, you're not going anywhere.

You sit your ass down and you call every single number that you can get into the building. And so I sat on the curb and I cold called every number on Google from my old phone. And finally, someone picked up. I was one of the only people in the office that day. And they came down, met me in the lobby, and I basically pitched them on myself for two hours. Gave me an interview.

You sit your ass down and you call every single number that you can get into the building. And so I sat on the curb and I cold called every number on Google from my old phone. And finally, someone picked up. I was one of the only people in the office that day. And they came down, met me in the lobby, and I basically pitched them on myself for two hours. Gave me an interview.

You sit your ass down and you call every single number that you can get into the building. And so I sat on the curb and I cold called every number on Google from my old phone. And finally, someone picked up. I was one of the only people in the office that day. And they came down, met me in the lobby, and I basically pitched them on myself for two hours. Gave me an interview.

I interviewed, botched the interview because I didn't know anything about linear algebra. I didn't know anything about physics. But I memorized all of the titles of the posters on this professor's wall. Came back the next day, so showed up again cold, and told them basically everything that I could possibly know about his specific research.

I interviewed, botched the interview because I didn't know anything about linear algebra. I didn't know anything about physics. But I memorized all of the titles of the posters on this professor's wall. Came back the next day, so showed up again cold, and told them basically everything that I could possibly know about his specific research.

I interviewed, botched the interview because I didn't know anything about linear algebra. I didn't know anything about physics. But I memorized all of the titles of the posters on this professor's wall. Came back the next day, so showed up again cold, and told them basically everything that I could possibly know about his specific research.

And he was impressed enough to let me work for him for free. And then they paid me the next year. And then I published internationally recognized research the next year. And by that time, I think that was impressive enough to let Stanford let me in, which was a life-changing moment.

And he was impressed enough to let me work for him for free. And then they paid me the next year. And then I published internationally recognized research the next year. And by that time, I think that was impressive enough to let Stanford let me in, which was a life-changing moment.

And he was impressed enough to let me work for him for free. And then they paid me the next year. And then I published internationally recognized research the next year. And by that time, I think that was impressive enough to let Stanford let me in, which was a life-changing moment.