"Jane Goodall"

Last week, I was given the opportunity to meet one of my idols, Jane Goodall. For those you who may not know who she is, she considered to be one of the world’s famous expert on chimpanzees and did an incredible study observing the social reactions between chimpanzees. Her studies feature the richest information on how chimpanzees and human share very similar characteristics. As a kid, I’ve always been fascinated with animals. In 2^nd grade, when we had to choose a book to write a report on, I chose one of Jane Goodall’s many books and became eagerly intrigued with her and monkeys. I found myself taking more and more books out on the lives of chimpanzees. My little brain was so amazed on how a creature so hairy could be so much like our complex selves. I envied Jane’s work to live in the wild to observe these animals becoming one with the nature. As a kid, strong women always influenced me, whether they were my aunts or famous ladies, my idols have always been those women who were motivated and self-driven to break through the mold. Jane Goodall was no different. When she was given to opportunity to travel into the wild to continue her research, many people were hesitant to give her and her partner grants. Claiming she was “just” a young girl with little to no education. But she proved them wrong. She became one of the few people to be entered into a graduate program to gain her Ph.D (in Cambridge to be exact) without first gaining a B.S or B.A. Even though, she was often criticized for her “unconventional ways” like naming her subjects instead of numbering them, she can be credited to documenting the idea that humans are not the only animals with personality and emotions. To this day, her passion and poise is shown through her lectures. Her charisma is something so evoking that I could of sat in that auditorium for hours, listening to her read the phone book. Jane Goodall now uses her fame and knowledge to continue to help our world. She started the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots and Shoots to continue her journey of giving back to this world. She now stresses the importance of keeping our home clean so we can continue to share the wondrous bounds of this earth with all of it’s creatures. She is truly an inspiration and recommend to anyone to go out to see her lectures whenever she comes around.