Reformed Research Scientist
"Don't Wait for Some Day"
Hannah's story, as told by Hannah:
"I come by the concept of reinventing yourself honestly. I was in my late 30s, and already becoming established in my career as a research scientist, when my mom passed away. Her death was very sudden and traumatic, and in the weeks and months that followed I spent many hours re-evaluating the path I was on, and the costs associated with it. I recall clearly seeing a note my mom had written my daughter about how much she enjoyed her school play, and how she was looking forward to their baking Christmas cookies together. I wasn’t part of any of it. I was completely disconnected; worse, I had no idea. I was so worried about navigating the daily stresses, I had stopped listening to the little voice inside myself. I had become inauthentic.
"It hit me then that, for years, I had really just been going through the motions. Always thinking about the next move — the next grant, the next study, the next promotion… I had stopped really deciding what to do with my life and was basically just doing what I was supposed to do. So when my mom’s stroke happened, it stopped me dead in my tracks. I asked myself, If I could do anything — be anything — in the world, what would it be?
"And I knew. Without a doubt, I knew. My love for art and my passion for creating beautiful things rushed to the fore. I wanted to create fine jewelry."