my story begins in a tiny little town in central Pennsylvania you kind of go to
central Pennsylvania you kind of go to
central Pennsylvania you kind of go to the middle of nowhere and turn left and
the middle of nowhere and turn left and
the middle of nowhere and turn left and it’s a farm country mostly dairy cattle
it’s a farm country mostly dairy cattle
it’s a farm country mostly dairy cattle there were 82 kids in my high school
there were 82 kids in my high school
there were 82 kids in my high school graduating class and it was not because
graduating class and it was not because
graduating class and it was not because a lot of us failed when we got our first
a lot of us failed when we got our first
a lot of us failed when we got our first walmart in town that was big news for us
walmart in town that was big news for us
walmart in town that was big news for us and that was where I spend my childhood
and that was where I spend my childhood
and that was where I spend my childhood except for one year the one year that I
except for one year the one year that I
except for one year the one year that I was 14 we moved from the small town in
was 14 we moved from the small town in
was 14 we moved from the small town in Pennsylvania to an equally small town
Pennsylvania to an equally small town
Pennsylvania to an equally small town this one different because it was in
this one different because it was in
this one different because it was in Massachusetts and for my family that
Massachusetts and for my family that
Massachusetts and for my family that move was mostly a disaster the new
move was mostly a disaster the new
move was mostly a disaster the new situation didn’t work out spent 14
situation didn’t work out spent 14
situation didn’t work out spent 14 months a high family drama dealing with
months a high family drama dealing with
months a high family drama dealing with moving they’re moving back buying a
moving they’re moving back buying a
moving they’re moving back buying a house selling a house you know in
house selling a house you know in
house selling a house you know in retrospect my parents really could have
retrospect my parents really could have
retrospect my parents really could have done without the whole process but for
done without the whole process but for
done without the whole process but for me the one cool thing that came out of
me the one cool thing that came out of
me the one cool thing that came out of this a whole disaster process was that I
this a whole disaster process was that I
this a whole disaster process was that I had a fantastic biology course that year
had a fantastic biology course that year
had a fantastic biology course that year so it’s my freshman year of high school
so it’s my freshman year of high school
so it’s my freshman year of high school I had this really enthusiastic and
I had this really enthusiastic and
I had this really enthusiastic and inspiring teacher she talked about
inspiring teacher she talked about
inspiring teacher she talked about intracellular proteins like they were
intracellular proteins like they were
intracellular proteins like they were rock stars and she was a woman which was
rock stars and she was a woman which was
rock stars and she was a woman which was not necessarily usual for a high school
not necessarily usual for a high school
not necessarily usual for a high school small town science teacher at that time
small town science teacher at that time
small town science teacher at that time so that year living in that environment
so that year living in that environment
so that year living in that environment where i had that course i was totally
where i had that course i was totally
where i had that course i was totally psyched up about and that teacher who
psyched up about and that teacher who
psyched up about and that teacher who was really inspiring and I was living
was really inspiring and I was living
was really inspiring and I was living however briefly near Boston which is
however briefly near Boston which is
however briefly near Boston which is where the headquarters of all the big
where the headquarters of all the big
where the headquarters of all the big biotechnology firms were at the time I
biotechnology firms were at the time I
biotechnology firms were at the time I came up with the plan so the plan was
came up with the plan so the plan was
came up with the plan so the plan was going to be my course for the entire
going to be my course for the entire
going to be my course for the entire rest of my career I was going to go to
rest of my career I was going to go to
rest of my career I was going to go to college major in biology I was going to
college major in biology I was going to
college major in biology I was going to go to graduate school get a PhD and then
go to graduate school get a PhD and then
go to graduate school get a PhD and then I was going to go work for one of these
I was going to go work for one of these
I was going to go work for one of these cool biotech firms where you can cure a
cool biotech firms where you can cure a
cool biotech firms where you can cure a disease and get rich doing it so looking
disease and get rich doing it so looking
disease and get rich doing it so looking back I’d say I know my new myself at
back I’d say I know my new myself at
back I’d say I know my new myself at that point well enough to know that I
that point well enough to know that I
that point well enough to know that I wanted to be involved in healthcare and
wanted to be involved in healthcare and
wanted to be involved in healthcare and I wanted to use my personal skills and
I wanted to use my personal skills and
I wanted to use my personal skills and aptitudes to help people I just also had
aptitudes to help people I just also had
aptitudes to help people I just also had the teenage thing going on where i was
the teenage thing going on where i was
the teenage thing going on where i was going to be rich and famous to it
going to be rich and famous to it
going to be rich and famous to it probably know some people like that so
probably know some people like that so
probably know some people like that so for the next 14 years I’ve
for the next 14 years I’ve
for the next 14 years I’ve all of the plan I did go to college and
all of the plan I did go to college and
all of the plan I did go to college and major in biology I did go to graduate
major in biology I did go to graduate
major in biology I did go to graduate school and get the PhD I met and married
school and get the PhD I met and married
school and get the PhD I met and married my husband while I was at it so
my husband while I was at it so
my husband while I was at it so everything was perfect except that it
everything was perfect except that it
everything was perfect except that it wasn’t because the further along I got
wasn’t because the further along I got
wasn’t because the further along I got on the plan the more time I spent in the
on the plan the more time I spent in the
on the plan the more time I spent in the research lab doing science and the more
research lab doing science and the more
research lab doing science and the more I started to feel like I kind of wanted
I started to feel like I kind of wanted
I started to feel like I kind of wanted to be doing something else and that was
to be doing something else and that was
to be doing something else and that was a really strange thing for me to be
a really strange thing for me to be
a really strange thing for me to be thinking at that point because the plan
thinking at that point because the plan
thinking at that point because the plan had been to do research and I was doing
had been to do research and I was doing
had been to do research and I was doing research so what was the problem I tried
research so what was the problem I tried
research so what was the problem I tried switching labs I tried spend it’s more
switching labs I tried spend it’s more
switching labs I tried spend it’s more time paying attention to my feelings and
time paying attention to my feelings and
time paying attention to my feelings and what I found was that no matter where I
what I found was that no matter where I
what I found was that no matter where I was working my favorite parts of
was working my favorite parts of
was working my favorite parts of research were not designing the
research were not designing the
research were not designing the experiments and getting the results back
experiments and getting the results back
experiments and getting the results back which is what scientists are supposed to
which is what scientists are supposed to
which is what scientists are supposed to be totally psyched up about my favorite
be totally psyched up about my favorite
be totally psyched up about my favorite parts were teaching the younger students
parts were teaching the younger students
parts were teaching the younger students how to do their experiments and then
how to do their experiments and then
how to do their experiments and then presenting our result of conferences so
presenting our result of conferences so
presenting our result of conferences so across my mind if what I like most is
across my mind if what I like most is
across my mind if what I like most is the teaching and the describing you know
the teaching and the describing you know
the teaching and the describing you know maybe what I really want to be doing is
maybe what I really want to be doing is
maybe what I really want to be doing is teaching not research and that was a
teaching not research and that was a
teaching not research and that was a pretty complicated thing for me to be
pretty complicated thing for me to be
pretty complicated thing for me to be thinking right then because scientists
thinking right then because scientists
thinking right then because scientists get kind of an attitude about people who
get kind of an attitude about people who
get kind of an attitude about people who leave research you know to get from the
leave research you know to get from the
leave research you know to get from the point where you’re a high schooler who
point where you’re a high schooler who
point where you’re a high schooler who loves a science to the point where
loves a science to the point where
loves a science to the point where you’re a junior investigator running
you’re a junior investigator running
you’re a junior investigator running your first research lab it’s about 15
your first research lab it’s about 15
your first research lab it’s about 15 years worth of work and not everybody
years worth of work and not everybody
years worth of work and not everybody makes it the whole way you know the
makes it the whole way you know the
makes it the whole way you know the hours are long the pay isn’t great and
hours are long the pay isn’t great and
hours are long the pay isn’t great and to get a good professor job in today’s
to get a good professor job in today’s
to get a good professor job in today’s job market your work can’t be just good
job market your work can’t be just good
job market your work can’t be just good enough it’s got to be amazing so there
enough it’s got to be amazing so there
enough it’s got to be amazing so there are a lot of people who leave science to
are a lot of people who leave science to
are a lot of people who leave science to do something that has a better work-life
do something that has a better work-life
do something that has a better work-life balance to it or the pays more they kind
balance to it or the pays more they kind
balance to it or the pays more they kind of get looked at of sellouts and there
of get looked at of sellouts and there
of get looked at of sellouts and there are a lot of people who leave because
are a lot of people who leave because
are a lot of people who leave because they just got tired of it couldn’t take
they just got tired of it couldn’t take
they just got tired of it couldn’t take it anymore never got that great paper
it anymore never got that great paper
it anymore never got that great paper that got him a job and they kind of get
that got him a job and they kind of get
that got him a job and they kind of get looked at its washouts so here I was 14
looked at its washouts so here I was 14
looked at its washouts so here I was 14 years in on the plan looking at washing
years in on the plan looking at washing
years in on the plan looking at washing out research and I was feeling really
out research and I was feeling really
out research and I was feeling really insecure about that so I kind of tended
insecure about that so I kind of tended
insecure about that so I kind of tended definitely mentioned the idea you know
definitely mentioned the idea you know
definitely mentioned the idea you know first my husband and then to come of our
first my husband and then to come of our
first my husband and then to come of our friends and family and they all gave me
friends and family and they all gave me
friends and family and they all gave me this totally deadpan like if you want to
this totally deadpan like if you want to
this totally deadpan like if you want to teach then you should teach because to
teach then you should teach because to
teach then you should teach because to them that was a no brainer but I really
them that was a no brainer but I really
them that was a no brainer but I really needed to hear that at that time in my
needed to hear that at that time in my
needed to hear that at that time in my life because I had gotten to the point
life because I had gotten to the point
life because I had gotten to the point where I was dragging myself to work
where I was dragging myself to work
where I was dragging myself to work doing a job that wasn’t really doing it
doing a job that wasn’t really doing it
doing a job that wasn’t really doing it for him
for him
for him anymore and I’m kinda knew I needed to
anymore and I’m kinda knew I needed to
anymore and I’m kinda knew I needed to make a change but to find the courage to
make a change but to find the courage to
make a change but to find the courage to actually do it took their support their
actually do it took their support their
actually do it took their support their support immunized me against my doubts
support immunized me against my doubts
support immunized me against my doubts and so I did go ahead and make the big
and so I did go ahead and make the big
and so I did go ahead and make the big jump and it’s been fantastic what I love
jump and it’s been fantastic what I love
jump and it’s been fantastic what I love about teaching first is the students
about teaching first is the students
about teaching first is the students Millennials are awesome do not let
Millennials are awesome do not let
Millennials are awesome do not let anybody tell you otherwise second is I’m
anybody tell you otherwise second is I’m
anybody tell you otherwise second is I’m still involved in all of my favorite
still involved in all of my favorite
still involved in all of my favorite parts of science you know the
parts of science you know the
parts of science you know the discoveries the Wonder the germs so if
discoveries the Wonder the germs so if
discoveries the Wonder the germs so if you look under a microscope your human
you look under a microscope your human
you look under a microscope your human cells are going to be big so these three
cells are going to be big so these three
cells are going to be big so these three guys here with the green outsides and
guys here with the green outsides and
guys here with the green outsides and the blue nuclei are your human cells
the blue nuclei are your human cells
the blue nuclei are your human cells they’re good sized much smaller than
they’re good sized much smaller than
they’re good sized much smaller than them are bacteria and then if you wanted
them are bacteria and then if you wanted
them are bacteria and then if you wanted to see viruses you would have to even
to see viruses you would have to even
to see viruses you would have to even zoom in again because viruses are
zoom in again because viruses are
zoom in again because viruses are another order of magnitude or more
another order of magnitude or more
another order of magnitude or more smaller than bacteria so what I want you
smaller than bacteria so what I want you
smaller than bacteria so what I want you to notice about these germs first off is
to notice about these germs first off is
to notice about these germs first off is they’re small they are everywhere germs
they’re small they are everywhere germs
they’re small they are everywhere germs are enough they are on us they’re on
are enough they are on us they’re on
are enough they are on us they’re on every surface you touch from cell phones
every surface you touch from cell phones
every surface you touch from cell phones to doorknobs and they are devious little
to doorknobs and they are devious little
to doorknobs and they are devious little things they can attach to ourselves they
things they can attach to ourselves they
things they can attach to ourselves they can live inside our bodies they can
can live inside our bodies they can
can live inside our bodies they can strip our nutrients out of us and of
strip our nutrients out of us and of
strip our nutrients out of us and of course if too many of them grow to
course if too many of them grow to
course if too many of them grow to successfully inside of you they can kill
successfully inside of you they can kill
successfully inside of you they can kill you so hand in hand with microbiology
you so hand in hand with microbiology
you so hand in hand with microbiology comes the science of immunology which is
comes the science of immunology which is
comes the science of immunology which is learning how our bodies prevent that
learning how our bodies prevent that
learning how our bodies prevent that microbial overload from happening
microbial overload from happening
microbial overload from happening immunology has kind of two main branches
immunology has kind of two main branches
immunology has kind of two main branches to it the first one is innate immunity
to it the first one is innate immunity
to it the first one is innate immunity which is the defense’s that your body
which is the defense’s that your body
which is the defense’s that your body runs 24 7 to protect you from germs of
runs 24 7 to protect you from germs of
runs 24 7 to protect you from germs of all kind and innate immunity includes
all kind and innate immunity includes
all kind and innate immunity includes some things you wouldn’t necessarily
some things you wouldn’t necessarily
some things you wouldn’t necessarily think of if somebody says the phrase
think of if somebody says the phrase
think of if somebody says the phrase immune system like for example your skin
immune system like for example your skin
immune system like for example your skin your clean intact skin is a fantastic
your clean intact skin is a fantastic
your clean intact skin is a fantastic barrier against germs of every kind
barrier against germs of every kind
barrier against germs of every kind which is why you put a sterile bandage
which is why you put a sterile bandage
which is why you put a sterile bandage on a cut when you get one because broken
on a cut when you get one because broken
on a cut when you get one because broken skin is much more susceptible to
skin is much more susceptible to
skin is much more susceptible to infection it’s not until germs get past
infection it’s not until germs get past
infection it’s not until germs get past that outer layer of innate structural
that outer layer of innate structural
that outer layer of innate structural defenses that you start needing all
defenses that you start needing all
defenses that you start needing all those white blood cells that people
those white blood cells that people
those white blood cells that people usually think about those germ-killing
usually think about those germ-killing
usually think about those germ-killing white blood cells here they’re in orange
white blood cells here they’re in orange
white blood cells here they’re in orange are mostly members of the other grouping
are mostly members of the other grouping
are mostly members of the other grouping which is adaptive immunity so unlike
which is adaptive immunity so unlike
which is adaptive immunity so unlike innate immunity which ones 20
innate immunity which ones 20
innate immunity which ones 20 47 for your whole life adaptive immunity
47 for your whole life adaptive immunity
47 for your whole life adaptive immunity is something your body learns to do by
is something your body learns to do by
is something your body learns to do by experience every time you get an
experience every time you get an
experience every time you get an infection you raise a couple of families
infection you raise a couple of families
infection you raise a couple of families of white blood cells that learn to
of white blood cells that learn to
of white blood cells that learn to protect you specifically from that
protect you specifically from that
protect you specifically from that infection they clear it out and
infection they clear it out and
infection they clear it out and importantly they remember it so it later
importantly they remember it so it later
importantly they remember it so it later on if the same germ tries to double back
on if the same germ tries to double back
on if the same germ tries to double back and in fact you again it’ll be
and in fact you again it’ll be
and in fact you again it’ll be recognized much more quickly and
recognized much more quickly and
recognized much more quickly and eliminated much more quickly so what
eliminated much more quickly so what
eliminated much more quickly so what does all this have to do with you for
does all this have to do with you for
does all this have to do with you for starters based on my experience what I
starters based on my experience what I
starters based on my experience what I would really like to tell you to do is
would really like to tell you to do is
would really like to tell you to do is do dream big make the big plan imagine
do dream big make the big plan imagine
do dream big make the big plan imagine yourself ten 15 20 years out really
yourself ten 15 20 years out really
yourself ten 15 20 years out really happy really fulfilled with where you
happy really fulfilled with where you
happy really fulfilled with where you are professionally then break it down
are professionally then break it down
are professionally then break it down break it into simple achievable steps
break it into simple achievable steps
break it into simple achievable steps that you can write out on a list and
that you can write out on a list and
that you can write out on a list and that you can check off as you go along
that you can check off as you go along
that you can check off as you go along anybody can daydream about being
anybody can daydream about being
anybody can daydream about being anything but when you break it down into
anything but when you break it down into
anything but when you break it down into a plan you’ve made it into a long-term
a plan you’ve made it into a long-term
a plan you’ve made it into a long-term plan not a daydream anymore a long-term
plan not a daydream anymore a long-term
plan not a daydream anymore a long-term plan is real having that checklist in
plan is real having that checklist in
plan is real having that checklist in front of you that you know you’re going
front of you that you know you’re going
front of you that you know you’re going down and you can look at and hold is
down and you can look at and hold is
down and you can look at and hold is your innate immunity it’s the thick skin
your innate immunity it’s the thick skin
your innate immunity it’s the thick skin that you need to protect you when people
that you need to protect you when people
that you need to protect you when people doubt your dream one of the simplest and
doubt your dream one of the simplest and
doubt your dream one of the simplest and most powerful things that you can do
most powerful things that you can do
most powerful things that you can do when you go to make up your checklist is
when you go to make up your checklist is
when you go to make up your checklist is to take meetings with a couple of people
to take meetings with a couple of people
to take meetings with a couple of people who’ve achieved something similar to
who’ve achieved something similar to
who’ve achieved something similar to what you want and ask them how they got
what you want and ask them how they got
what you want and ask them how they got where they are most adults are totally
where they are most adults are totally
where they are most adults are totally happy to take a meeting with a student
happy to take a meeting with a student
happy to take a meeting with a student and talk about their career path most of
and talk about their career path most of
and talk about their career path most of us are flattered to be asked if you’re
us are flattered to be asked if you’re
us are flattered to be asked if you’re not at the point yet where you feel like
not at the point yet where you feel like
not at the point yet where you feel like you’re quite ready to talk to a person
you’re quite ready to talk to a person
you’re quite ready to talk to a person check out the jobs and careers section
check out the jobs and careers section
check out the jobs and careers section of your local library or your school
of your local library or your school
of your local library or your school guidance office next and importantly I
guidance office next and importantly I
guidance office next and importantly I wish for you that you would remember
wish for you that you would remember
wish for you that you would remember what I almost forgot that as you go
what I almost forgot that as you go
what I almost forgot that as you go along your plan check-in off the steps
along your plan check-in off the steps
along your plan check-in off the steps you own the plan the plan does not own
you own the plan the plan does not own
you own the plan the plan does not own you by the time that you’ve checked off
you by the time that you’ve checked off
you by the time that you’ve checked off a few of those steps you are going to
a few of those steps you are going to
a few of those steps you are going to know yourself and your field of endeavor
know yourself and your field of endeavor
know yourself and your field of endeavor better than you did when you first made
better than you did when you first made
better than you did when you first made up the list so the final goal may drift
up the list so the final goal may drift
up the list so the final goal may drift a bit and that’s okay the real final
a bit and that’s okay the real final
a bit and that’s okay the real final goal is for you to be happy and
goal is for you to be happy and
goal is for you to be happy and fulfilled not for you to have job X if X
fulfilled not for you to have job X if X
fulfilled not for you to have job X if X changes into y that’s alright because as
changes into y that’s alright because as
changes into y that’s alright because as you went down your list checking off
you went down your list checking off
you went down your list checking off each of those steps
each of those steps
each of those steps each of those completed experiences with
each of those completed experiences with
each of those completed experiences with something that you accomplished you own
something that you accomplished you own
something that you accomplished you own it belongs to you and it’s part of you
it belongs to you and it’s part of you
it belongs to you and it’s part of you that’s your adaptive immunity the
that’s your adaptive immunity the
that’s your adaptive immunity the experience that will protect you when
experience that will protect you when
experience that will protect you when the doubts are coming from inside of
the doubts are coming from inside of
the doubts are coming from inside of yourself so please take what I learned
yourself so please take what I learned
yourself so please take what I learned plot your course make your goal live
plot your course make your goal live
plot your course make your goal live your dream
your dream
your dream [Applause]
”
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