CURIOUS EXPLORATIONS: The Human side of Engineering

Coming out of it, I felt ready to take on any public speaking challenge thrown at me. And opportunities to apply my learning started to come in over the following months. My first paid speaking engagement. Coaching Ultraspeaking students as a side gig. A TedX talk. 

My grandma grew up in Nazi Germany. She was, like most German girls at the time, a member of the BDM, the Nazi youth organization for girls. My mom grew up in socialist East Germany. She was, like most East German girls at the time, a member of the FDJ, the communist youth organization. I grew up in democratic reunified Germany. I was not a member of any youth organization.

I love both of them dearly, but our politics to this day diverge widely. For decades, every family gathering would turn into a political fight. Until I tried something different.

It's been too hot for the last few months. The drought scares me. The unstable temperatures scare me.

Until recently, I felt that we were heading towards unavoidable climate doom. I used to believe that the efforts needed to cut our carbon emissions were too hard to achieve, and thus futile. Until recently.