I have learned a lot from Dr. Julia Felippe and Dr. Andre Kessler’s life stories. These past couple of months have been very eventful for everyone. Reflecting upon my life, I have had some surprises similar to Dr. Felippe and Dr. Kessler, both of whom had no idea where their life would take them. As a transfer student, I had no idea that I would ever attend Cornell and move during the midst of a pandemic. Despite enduring all of these challenges, it is great to be reminded to lead with your passion. Sometimes I forget that following your heart will lead to personal success, especially with the pressures that come with attending Cornell. This event was a great reminder.

I learned a couple more lessons from this podcast. For instance, Dr. Kessler mentioned that it is essential to figure out your career passion because once someone does, they will always be able to make money. A person’s love and expertise for their passion will give them opportunities to live their life. Instead of working to make money, a person is making money to continue working and following their passion. I find that a beautiful reminder that I plan to pursue. Sometimes I get worried about future concerns without dealing with my initial hurdles. This made me realize that I have time and should focus on one problem at a time. Dr. Kessler also mentioned that what he learned outside of school was more beneficial than what he learned in the classroom setting. These summer learning experiences stuck with him and impacted his life path and aspirations. I am incredibly grateful for this event. Dr. Felippe and Dr. Kessler’s stories were not only interesting, but a great way to be reminded of important lessons that will aid me in my overall career path.