About Me
I’m Charlie —
a student who’s endlessly curious about how the universe works. I spend most of my time trying to turn questions into something I can see or build.
My interest in theoretical physics started when I was twelve and saw a picture of a hydrogen atom’s orbital that looked nothing like the Bohr model from class. That small mystery sent me into equations, simulations, and late-night experiments that grew into a love for uncovering how math and physics reveal the patterns behind reality.
I learn best by building things — graphs, models, or ways to help others understand an idea. I’ve taught myself calculus, built simulations of black holes and atomic orbitals, and even created and taught a theoretical physics course at my school. I’m drawn to big questions — things like how relativity connects to quantum mechanics, or whether there’s a “god equation” that ties everything together — but I’m just as interested in people: what sparks their curiosity and how to help them rediscover joy in learning. Whether it’s tutoring a classmate or running an experiment that fails five times before it works, I chase that same feeling — the spark when something finally clicks.
I built my own physics course.
When my school didn’t offer a theoretical physics class, I designed one. I connected with professors, built a curriculum, and taught it to peers who were curious but intimidated by the subject. Seeing friends who once said, “I’m just not good at physics” start asking questions about spacetime and quantum mechanics was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had.
I once turned a salad spinner into a centrifuge.
It didn’t exactly work — but that wasn’t the point. I love tinkering just to see what happens, whether that’s building a model, testing a wild idea, or running an experiment that fails five times before it teaches me something new. That same curiosity is what drives my learning everywhere else.
I think of Desmos as an art studio.
Some people draw. I graph. I’ve used Desmos to model black hole accretion disks, simulate electron orbitals, and test mathematical ideas just to see what they look like. It’s where I turn equations into pictures and physics into motion.
I’m a physicist with long hair and a California hat.
I’m not actually from California, but I like the surprise it gives people. Outside of physics, I love tennis, guitar, piano and listening to 80s and 90s rock — Queen, Def Leppard, Guns n’ Roses. I think curiosity works best when it catches you off guard, whether it’s a new equation or an unexpected song.
Values
Curiosity
Every question is a doorway to another one. I like asking “why” until I run out of answers — and then trying to build a new one.
Persistence
Sometimes the math doesn’t work, or the simulation crashes. I’ve learned that progress usually starts right after failure number five.
Clarity
I believe if you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it yet. Teaching others helps me test what I really know.
Creativity
Whether I’m modeling black holes, sketching graphs, or finding music that fits a mood, I like finding unexpected ways to connect ideas.
Community
The best discoveries happen together. I love the moment when someone who thought they “weren’t good at math” starts asking their own questions.
Humility
There’s always more to learn — from professors, classmates, or even a bad experiment. That’s what keeps science, and me, moving forward.