Einstein was born on March 14, 1879. Einstein's father, Hermann Einstein was salesman engineer. Einstein's mother, Pauline Koch, ran the household. Einstein went to an elementary school in Munich. Einstein loved classical music and played the violin. Einstein grew up in a middle class Jewish family. When Einstein was just five years old, he came across a compass. He was fascinated by the way an invisible force moved the needle. When he was 12, he found a geometry book, which he read over and over. Einstein began to wonder what a light beam would look like if you ran along side it at the same speed. This theory led him to write his first scientific paper at 16 years old. "The Investigation of the State of Aether in Magnetic Fields" he called it. The observation of the light was a question that would keep him thinking for 10 years. in 1894, Einstein's family had to move to Milan, Italy because Hermann's company failed to get an important contract to electrify the city of Munich. Einstein was left at a relatives boarding house to finish his education. When he turned of age, he was face with military duty. Einstein had to withdraw from school, using a doctors note to excuse himself, making his way to Milan to join his parents. Einsteins parents were faced with the fact that Einstein is a school drop out and has no employable skills. Luckily, Einstein was able to apply to Swiss Federal Polytechnic School. Lacking a high school diploma, he failed most of the entrance exam. But was accepted in mathematics and physics. From that, he was admitted to the school provided that he complete his formal education first. So Einstein went to a special high school.