GLOBAL CHANGEMAKERS TALK

The Global Changemakers discussion event took place at the University of Saint Joseph.  During this event, three different accomplished women from different areas of expertise came together and discussed the efforts it takes for a women to have an impact on society and how we need to work together to change the world around us.  The conversation was lead by Yu-Hui, a scientist who was inspired by her father’s death from cancer to study genome medicine. Currently, she works at the Jackson Laboratory, where she helps manage their efforts and medical decisions in Asia. She talked with Diana Ayton-Shenker, Global Momenta’s President and CEO, and Priyamvada Natarajan, an educator at Yale and a very successful astrophysicist.  It was really inspiring to hear each of the women discuss their backgrounds and childhood lives, because they weren’t all glamorous despite their great accomplishments. For example, Hui’s family had very little money and her father died of cancer when she was 12. Rather than hindering her chances at success, her father’s disease and passing was what encouraged her to become the successful scientist she is today.  This made me realize that your status in society and general life doesn’t isn’t what makes or breaks your chances; it’s your mindset and your drive to achieve great things. Many other pieces of the conversation stuck out to me, but I found the most interesting part of the discussion to be the differences between the women. All of the women were of different cultures, ethnicities, professions and homes lives, but they all turned out to be equally successful in their own ways.  I saw this as a close connection to Global Studies, as it demonstrates that all differences have benefits, and despite the different trials and obstacles people go through, everyone can achieve and impact the world around them.