I have been licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator since 1981 but knew about it for many years before. I guess the involment with electronics started when I plugged in a 12 volt fan motor into a 120 volt house plug. I remember a bright flash and picking myself up across the room. Now then I had to learn about where that flash came from and why the fan didn't work afterwards. Of course being about 5 years old, it was very fortunate I wasn't killed.