Theresa  Carranza’s academic life story is the definition of serendipity.

The dual  major in physics and geology graduates with research honors in physics from CCNY  this spring.  She heads to the University of Michigan as a Rackam Fellow in space and planetary physics to study interplanetary magnetic fields.

But the  former New Orleanian wasn’t always so focused. Theresa had little direction until  two unexpected events changed her life.

A few  years ago, Theresa worked at a pizza place in New Orleans, playing drums in  punk and rock bands. She had a high school diploma and no big plans. Her high  school offered no physics or math classes beyond algebra III.

One day  a customer returned with a book. It was “Parallel Worlds” by Michio Kaku, professor  of theoretical physics at City College. It thrilled her with ideas about black  holes, time machines, and parallel universes.

She  began devouring books on physics. Memories of rock collecting with her mother  flooded back, along with a long-forgotten love of science.

Theresa  started community college, studying physics and music, but remained undecided.  Within a month a second life-changer hit: Hurricane Katrina.

Having  rescued her drums and dried off, Theresa reevaluated her choices from a refuge  in Texas. “After Katrina, I realized I had no control over the elements,” she  recalled. “But…I realized that the quest for knowledge is what I appreciate –  that’s something I can control.”

Resolved  anew, she headed for New York. CCNY, Dr. Kaku’s home base, welcomed her and provided  the basic physics courses she lacked. Later, an earth and atmospheric sciences  class revealed the magic of geophysics and solar storms.

Theresa graduates  on the dean’s list. She received the Dr. Sydney Millman Scholarship for physics  and the Sonkin medal.  She researched the  optical characteristics  of clay at CCNY, geomagnetism in Colorado, with the U.S.  Geological Survey,  and solar flare spectroscopy in Montana.

Her ultimate  goal is to emulate her heroine, Marcia McNutt, science adviser to the U.S.  Secretary of the Interior. “I want to be in a position where I can lead…where  science is going, “ she said.

Theresa rock climbs, hikes and camps, and  for a time performed around  New York with her band “Dolly Lawless.”

Serendipitous  happenings change worlds. For Theresa, a book opened her eyes, a hurricane  steeled her resolve, and a class revealed the power of solar tempests on Earth.  Now she takes the world by storm.