July 28, 2026
Over the past three weeks, I took a course called “Think Like a Physicist” in the University of Chicago Precollege 2026 program.
There were about 15 students in the class, and everyone was incredibly smart. It was the first time I had been surrounded by so many physics lovers. Most of them seemed to be planning to major in physics in college.
The course was challenging. We had daily problems, assignments, a quiz, a final exam, and even a project presentation. It was a lot of work, but it also meant I learned a lot of physics.
At the end of the program, each team gave a presentation. My teammate and I chose to present on the double-slit experiment and quantum mechanics. Although we had learned about quantum mechanics and quantum computing in class, I still found many of the concepts difficult to understand intuitively. While preparing for our presentation, I realized that the double-slit experiment provides a great way to think about qubits and the Hadamard gate. It helped me connect the abstract formula to something more visual and physical.
I didn’t expect to do especially well, so I was surprised to receive a 94 out of 100 in the course. It was an intense three weeks, but it was an unforgettable experience. I finished the program exhausted, but very happy and motivated.
Sam's Odyssey 101 
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