Women I admire

I just got back from a three day class that I took at UW-Oshkosh. It was about Women in Science, Math, Technology & Engineering. I am earning 3 credits by taking this class and learning a ton about women in STEM careers (and the need for more). There were some startling stats that I never knew about the importance of Math as an indicator of person's success in college - or even graduating from college! I learned even more statistics about the low number of women in STEM careers (by the way, medical careers are not included in STEM careers-they are considered allied health careers).

Now - to get to the point of my entry today. I have been talking to many women and listening to several speakers over the past three days. I have been "wow"ed! In addition, I have been reflecting on other women in my life and how much I respect and admire them.

Kim - my biking partner. She is a full time mom. She has a psychology degree and became a full time mom when her first child was born. She is no ordinary mom. Her unique impact on me is how avid she works on her family life and making sure her son has every advantage working for him - he has autism. Her constant research, planning, education, networking and involvement are what I admire. By the way, I do not think she knows all of this.

My Grandma - She will be 87 this month. About two years ago she fell down going into church and hit her head hard - very hard. Within a week she was having brain surgery because of the blood pooling because of the fall. She had some short term memory loss. She was tired. At one point she even talked about letting go, but she didn't. She prayed. She trusted. She got better. She's practically back to where she was before the accident - and that a strong willed, independent, social and lovable grandmother. I love you grandma!

Kate - I met Kate about 2 months ago. If you read her blog about her husband's battle with colon cancer you will learn as I did about her inspiring courage. I know of no one person who has shown as much bravery, fear, honesty and love. Her blog address is http://www.marventano.blogspot.com/

Catherine - my friend. She teaches math at the same school as I do. How she can raise three boys (four if you include her husband), teach, run a household and undertake a rigorous graduate program in two short years is what I admire. In addition, she is honest, caring and isn't afraid to speak her mind. I LOVE THAT!

My daughter - I know, I know...she is only 8 so she is not a "woman", but she will be. What I admire about her is she is my future. She is kind - to her brother and her friends. She has so much energy and enthusiasm for everything she does. She amazes me at every turn in her development. She's smart (I know, I know... we say that about our own children all the time). She picks up on the smallest detail and retains that knowledge for, well, ever (again, she's only 8, so forever is 8 years now). She loves to read! She loves to learn math! She loves that I know and teach science and she is willing to learn from me! I would love to see her be one of those success stories I heard about this past week at UW-O Women in STEM careers.

Dr. Bonnie Bassler - I heard her speak at UW-O. WOW!! She is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University. She spoke so well and with so much passion for her work. She mentors many of the best researchers of today. Her research and discovery seems so simple, now, (as she puts it) but was far fetched and absurd when she began. Now, there are hundreds of labs doing what she is doing and trying to find ways to apply what she discovered to anything from new ways to treat bacterial infections to learning how cells within our own bodies communicate to each other. Here is an excerpt about her discovery. "Bonnie Bassler has discovered that bacteria communicate with a chemical language. This process, called quorum sensing, allows bacteria to count their numbers, determine when they have reached a critical mass, and then change their behavior in unison to carry out processes that require many cells acting together to be effective."

I need to stop now. My list is not complete. My friends - they are all awesome! I just picked out some characteristics that I do not feel I possess and that is why these women are ones I admire. I thank each of them for showing me their personalities. I thank my friends for being there for me and I hope I am there for you as well.