In the first interview session, conducted on February 12, 2015, Hubel discusses his family background and the first three years of his life in New York and New Jersey. He then talks about his early life Portland, Oregon, including the jobs his parents held. He speaks at length about his elementary and high school education in Portland, including his social life and influential teachers. He shares his reasons for studying electrical engineering at Cornell University, and talks about his college experience during the 1960s. He shares his thoughts about protests against the Vietnam War, and talks about experiences in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.