Perseverance, the quality of steadfast in the face of great odds, is perhaps the most evident of Marie Curie's qualities. Marie's life is a tale of great perseverance. Her unrelenting spirit helped her attain greatness.
Marie Skladowska Curie was born on November 7, 1867 in Warsaw Poland to parents Bronisława and Władysław Skłodowskia. Both parents were teachers. They taught Marie, early on, a passion for education. Marie first learned about chemistry and physics from her father. This affinity to higher learning defined Marie's life early on. She had a great thirst for knowledge.
Life was not easy for young Marie. Success was not handed to her in a silver platter. She had to carve them on her own.
She wanted to pursue advanced studies in Science. But this was not possible in Poland at that time. The only way to circumvent this difficulty was to study in Sorbonne Paris. However, financial constraints prevented the young Marie to commence her studies. Marie entered into an agreement with her elder sister, Bronya to address their limited financial means. The arrangement was for Marie to do work as a governess so she could finance Bronya's studies at Sorbonne. In turn, once Bronya completed her medical course, she would finance Marie's studies.
Bronya kept her promise to her younger sister. The moment she finished medicine at Sorbonne, she sent Marie to school. Marie, at 24, began her dream to study physics and mathematics.
Marie had difficulties adjusting to the new school environment because she had no previous training in the French language. Also, she had been away from school for 6 years. But her love for science and math prevailed. Marie pursued her studies with intense focus and determination. She moved to a little attic in Quartier Latin to save time traveling to and fro school. The room was so cold that Marie had to sleep with all her clothes on. She sometimes forgot to eat. So much so that she would faint from sheer hunger. After three years, Marie passed the physics and mathematics exam with flying colors. She planned to return to Poland after getting her teacher's diploma.
In 1894, she met Pierre Curie. They married a year later. Marie was concentrating on the newly discovered radiation. Inspired by Antoine Henri Becquerel's discovery of radioactive properties of uranium, Marie set out to study radioactivity on her own. Using the piezoelectric techniques developed by Pierre, Marie learned that the ore in pitchblened gave off more radiation than uranium. Convinced that there was an unknown element behind the strong radiation, she continued an independent study by her own. Later, her husband abandoned his studies on magnetism to work with his wife. In 1898, their combined efforts paid off. Pierre and Marie Curie announced to the world their discovery of two new elements: radium and polonium. Pierre and Marie Curie shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with Becquerel for their simultaneous discoveries on radioactive elements.
Pierre passed away on April 19, 1906. Marie continued her studies on elements. She was again awarded a second Nobel Prize in chemistry, for her work in radium and extracting radium compounds. In 1914, she headed the Paris Institute of Radium and established the Curie Institute. Marie Curie became ill with pernicious anemia, an illness associated with continuous exposure to radiation. She passed away on July 4, 1934.
Marie Curie embodies the virtues of persistence and strong will amidst insurmountable odds particularly poverty. Giving up was not an option for this iconic woman. And because she persisted, her efforts were rewarded with immense success and unmatched achievements. Marie Curie's iron will paid off handsomely.
No comments:
Post a Comment