Wassan Nasreddin, Grade 12
UWC Li Po Chun
I never had a role model or an idol, but I’ve always been astonished by how many amazing humans there are, and by how much I can learn from them. It wasn’t easy to choose only one person to write about as there are many scientists, activists, athletes, and even bloggers who all add something to the world, each in their own way. So, having recently watched ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and learned a lot about Mayim Bialik, I decided to dedicate this piece to her because she motivates and inspires me. I was quite impressed by the fact that she is both an actress and a scientist, which has made the idea of having two careers quite appealing to me since I have many interests myself and I am still figuring out what path to take.
Mayim Bialik is an American actress, neuroscientist, and author. She started her acting career in the late 1980s but was mostly known for playing the title character of the sitcom ‘Blossom’ from 1991 to 1995. She then decided to focus on her academic career, so she went to UCLA for her undergraduate studies and obtained a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience in addition to Hebrew and Jewish studies. In 2007, she earned a PhD in neuroscience from the same university.
In 2010, she was cast for the role of the neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler in the sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory’. She starred in the show until it wrapped up in 2019, gaining many Emmy award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Moreover, Bialik has written several books. For instance, she wrote the book ‘Girling Up’, which scientifically addresses the struggles girls face as they grow up. She then followed it up with the book ‘Boying up’, in which the science, anatomy, and mentality of growing up as a male are discussed. She also wrote and directed her own movie ‘As Sick as They Made Us’, which is set to premiere by the end of 2020. Additionally, she founded Grok Nation in 2015, a platform where people from different backgrounds and ages engage in online conversations to discuss contemporary issues.
Bialik proves that it is not only possible to pursue different passions but to excel at them when one is willing to make the required effort. She is also a mother of two boys, and while she admitted that it was challenging, she still managed to do her job and take care of her children, setting an encouraging example for all the working mums out there who love their children and still want to keep their careers. Furthermore, what I find most admirable about Bialik is that despite being so accomplished, she remained kind and modest.
All in all, I never thought that watching a TV show for fun would lead me to find such an influential person. So, whether you have a role model or not, our world is filled with people to look up to. Anyone can teach you something, whether it is a family member, a friend, or a historical figure. So never stop looking, because inspiration is often found where you least expect it.
Mayim Bialik is an American actress, neuroscientist, and author. She started her acting career in the late 1980s but was mostly known for playing the title character of the sitcom ‘Blossom’ from 1991 to 1995. She then decided to focus on her academic career, so she went to UCLA for her undergraduate studies and obtained a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience in addition to Hebrew and Jewish studies. In 2007, she earned a PhD in neuroscience from the same university.
In 2010, she was cast for the role of the neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler in the sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory’. She starred in the show until it wrapped up in 2019, gaining many Emmy award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Moreover, Bialik has written several books. For instance, she wrote the book ‘Girling Up’, which scientifically addresses the struggles girls face as they grow up. She then followed it up with the book ‘Boying up’, in which the science, anatomy, and mentality of growing up as a male are discussed. She also wrote and directed her own movie ‘As Sick as They Made Us’, which is set to premiere by the end of 2020. Additionally, she founded Grok Nation in 2015, a platform where people from different backgrounds and ages engage in online conversations to discuss contemporary issues.
Bialik proves that it is not only possible to pursue different passions but to excel at them when one is willing to make the required effort. She is also a mother of two boys, and while she admitted that it was challenging, she still managed to do her job and take care of her children, setting an encouraging example for all the working mums out there who love their children and still want to keep their careers. Furthermore, what I find most admirable about Bialik is that despite being so accomplished, she remained kind and modest.
All in all, I never thought that watching a TV show for fun would lead me to find such an influential person. So, whether you have a role model or not, our world is filled with people to look up to. Anyone can teach you something, whether it is a family member, a friend, or a historical figure. So never stop looking, because inspiration is often found where you least expect it.
Bibliography:
https://www.biography.com/actor/mayim-bialik#:~:text=Acting%20Career,-'Pumpkinhead%2C'%20'&text=Bialik%20began%20acting%20in%20the,Facts%20of%20Life%20and%20Webster.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/mayim-bialik/222934/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36717954-boying-up
https://people.com/food/mayim-bialik-lifestyle-site-groknation/
https://www.biography.com/actor/mayim-bialik#:~:text=Acting%20Career,-'Pumpkinhead%2C'%20'&text=Bialik%20began%20acting%20in%20the,Facts%20of%20Life%20and%20Webster.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/mayim-bialik/222934/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36717954-boying-up
https://people.com/food/mayim-bialik-lifestyle-site-groknation/
www.unitedworldwide.co