Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Adrian Suarez Avila/ News Director
If Yadira Amador believes in anything, it’s in the power of an inspirational story.
A junior chemistry major, Amador actively seeks professional development opportunities that find ways of incorporating inspirational stories within science, technology, engineering and math fields.
Now she can stop looking.
As part of its 2015 Leadership Lectures series, the University’s Center for Leadership will be hosting Captain Barrington Irving, who, at the age of 23, became the youngest individual and first African-American pilot to fly around the world in a single-engine aircraft.
At the lecture, Irving will discuss the importance of making topics covered in STEM courses relevant to students, and how to fuse these courses with those in the humanities, among others.
The lecture, along with the three others that comprise the series, was chosen by University faculty and staff, two groups that worked alongside the Center for Leadership’s academic board of advisors and a group of business professionals from the community.
According to Garth D. Headley, associate director of public affairs in the Center for Leadership, the lecture will aim to provide more than just information on STEM fields to those in attendance. Irving will be speaking on the difficulties he faced as a young man and his ability to overcome adversity.
The interest in potentially hosting Irving was sparked over two years ago, when members of the Center for Leadership saw the young pilot sharing his story at a Miami Foundation event.
As part of the Miami Fellows program, Irving was one of various individuals who was given the chance to gain valuable insight on how to succeed in his respective field.
While the Center for Leadership seeks to invite prominent professionals holding leadership positions in a variety of disciplines, more focus is placed on the topic that can be discussed as opposed to the person delivering the address, according to Headley.
“More than anything, the lesson from Barrington’s story is tenacity. How can you persevere, how can you make things happen in spite of whatever beginnings you had?” said Headley.
For Headley, one of the most important aspects of the lecture will be the element of informing those in attendance how to overcome the challenges that life throws at them.
“I think the lesson [one] should walk away with from Barrington…really boils down to how much do you want [to succeed],” he said.
For some students, the element of inspiration is what draws them to the lecture.
“I’m going to attend the event, but not because I’m interested in a career in the STEM field,” said Yadira Amador. “I think it’s important to be reminded about one’s ability to push through adversity, and that’s what I believe the lecture will offer.”
In drawing attention to Irving’s potential for inspiring individuals, Headley mentioned that people shouldn’t dwell on the relative level of difficulty of their challenges, but should instead focus on determining whether or not they can move forward in life.
“You can either face the world on your knees when it knocks you down, or you can stand up and start moving again,” said Headley, quoting Whoopi Goldberg.
Rather than just talk about how much enjoyment can come from a STEM career, Irving will also highlight the necessity for students to be academically prepared when considering pursuing careers in the STEM industry.
Students are not the only ones welcomed to the lecture.
“The lectures are intended not just for students and faculty and staff, [they are] intended for the community,” said Headley, citing that the Center for Leadership aims to provide educational opportunities for the entire community.
The lecture will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 9:00 a.m. in the Graham Center Ballrooms at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus.
Those interested in attending are encouraged to RVSP to the event by visiting the Center for Leadership’s web page.
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