Embracing Determinism
"... There is peace in the simple idea that you are where you are meant to be."
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In a philosophical sense, I lean towards moderate determinism.
What does that mean? Well, I can’t help but find those who flaunt erudite vocabulary a tad verbose (lol), so let's keep it simple. At its core, I believe events unfold for a reason. To a determinist, the world resembles an intricate web of interwoven events, each inexorably tied to its predecessor. Causality operates under rigid laws, affording scant room for randomness or chance.
Determinism is a lens through which we can view the world, embracing uncertainty and ambiguity about the future. However, this lens can often distort our view, thus it must be moderated – we can influence the chain of causality. Diligent study can, for example, vastly improve exam performance (or so I thought before sitting Thermal Physics).
Determinism has shaped my life, often for the better (pre–Thermal Physics). We must embrace life as it presents itself and enjoy every moment. There is peace in the simple idea that you are where you are meant to be.
Where does all this philosophical jabber relate to my own life? Well, I was rejected from my first choice University three years ago, almost to the day. I shan’t tell you which University it was to spare embarrassment (for them), but it is situated in the idyllic Scottish town of St Andrews. What I do vividly recall is the moment it happened. I was attending an online open day for the University of Glasgow, during the COVID era when Boris was flaunting his own rules, and we were all glued to our screens watching Joe Wicks jog on the spot in his living room. As I listened to the Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy talk about… well, Physics (surprisingly), an email from UCAS popped up with the ominous subject line: “There is an update to your application”. Of course, I knew it could only be from that final university, the one that hadn’t yet responded. It’s difficult to describe that moment, apart from the fact that a lot less urine came out than I had expected. In that moment, as I glanced back to the online open day, a profound clarity dawned upon me, and I knew where I was meant to be. I scrolled straight past the rejection to accept my offer to study at Glasgow, in this wonderful city. It is a testament to trusting the path life unfolds before us.
Since coming to Glasgow, I’ve undergone quite a metamorphosis. I come from a middle-class suburb in Edinburgh, where interactions were confined to a small bubble, few of whom I genuinely connected with. However, what a change Glasgow University has wrought! It is as if someone handed me a social magic wand, conjuring up friendships with an incredible group of people whom I couldn’t have dreamt up in my wildest fantasies. It’s also empowered me to share this unfiltered blog post. Rest assured, I’m not being held captive by the Vice Chancellor, trading a positive Trip Advisor-style review for my freedom. I am genuinely grateful for this experience. As well as socially, I’ve been academically unleashed and allowed to work with world-leading experts on brand spanking new research projects, in the fascinating area of solar flares. Of course, this academic excellence does not extend to Thermal Physics, but c’est la vie!
The second Law of Thermodynamics states that entropy – that is, the disorder of an isolated system – always increases. A fact that unfortunately did not come up in the Thermal Physics exam, a subject which can often make you feel a tad overheated – pun intended. And as I reflect on my journey from failed applicant to University of Glasgow superstar, I realize that embracing the chaos is often the best course (not to sound too much like Heath Ledger’s Joker).
It is often the case that the best adventures begin with a rejection letter, so live life to the fullest and enjoy every bleeding moment.
Daniel Keane is a penultimate year Physics with Astrophysics MSci student at the University of Glasgow
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