>because you've prepared yourself for the opportunity

Hmm, so, there's a teenager that loves astronomy and is very clever but he lives in rural Indiana with some parents who neglect him.

(Or any third-world country around the world; or even worse, a war ridden place).

How do you suggest he should prepare for this kind of opportunity?

I'm not detracting from his merit, but 99% of this outcome is due to being next door to Caltech and sympathetic to its faculty.

You don’t choose what you want, you choose what you can have.