The most effective way to do it, is to do it.
Who seeks shall find.
If you can dream it, you can do it.
Do not weep do not wax indignant. Understand.
Always desire to learn something useful.
Be gentle to all and stern with yourself.
To know oneself, one should assert oneself.
If you're going through hell, keep going.
Know or listen to those who know.
Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.
That attitude does not exist so much today, but in those days there was a very sharp distinction between basic physics and applied physics. Columbia did not deal with applied physics.