I am often asked how our mother inspired my sister Moriah and me to want to become scientists. She never directly suggested we should go down that path. Instead, she shared the aspects of the natural world, that she loved, with us while keeping the non-science aspects of her job separate from our lives at home. Now, I have learned that her perspective provides insights that spark innovative discoveries, some of which challenged the status quo. Her passion for research has allowed her to pursue what she believes to be worth studying. Her personality and collaborative nature allow her to be teased at home, facilitate a room of diverse opinions, and command a hall of hundreds of people. Her respect for those around her is inspiring. My mom’s trust in her trainees and collaborators allows her to answer questions that could fundamentally not be answered had she pigeonholed herself to a single field. She managed to accomplish everything while being nothing other than my mom to me, and I am so glad that I am growing into a person who can truly appreciate the woman she is to everyone else.
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