Extra Credit #1 - "Balancing Humility with Audacity" featuring Jacqueline Novogratz

 After reading “The Blue Sweater” by Jacqueline Novogratz, I wanted to learn more about who she was like and to, essentially, put a face to her name. Thus, I decided to watch “Balancing Humility with Audacity”, an interview she had at her alma mater a year ago. Throughout the interview, I noticed how poised and confident she was as she spoke. She was a great storyteller; each response was backed up by a story full of emotion and meaning. I felt engaged the entire time as her experiences were great lessons I could reflect upon. Below are some points that stuck out to me the most:

Near the start of the interview, Novogratz talks about John Gardner, a professor she met at Stanford who later became her mentor. She recounts how Gardner once said, “You have to be focused on being interested, not interesting.” This quote made me pause the video and reflect on the underlying meaning. Instead of doing things for the sake of others or extrinsic benefits, do things that make you happy and further your curiosities. Only then will your life be of real meaning. 

Another part of the interview that intrigued me was when she told a story about when her little sister had brain surgery that left her paralyzed and connected it to a lesson. When you or your loved ones face an unfortunate situation, it is easy to fall into despair. You think about the worst-case scenario and there is a sense of hopelessness. However, what you need to do is to be proactive. Instead of being afraid, you should face your challenges head-on and instill hope. Hope is what dares you to move forward and make changes. 

Similarly, Novogratz notes how resilience contributed to her success. When she was in Africa to try and improve opportunities for people in underserved communities, she was first met with pushback and skepticism. Although discouraged at first, she eventually learned to get back up, show up, tell the truth, and listen to the people around her. The people did not need her to solve problems for them; they needed her to help them build their capabilities so they could solve them themselves. 

Later in the interview, she gives some advice to the students in the audience as she was once sitting in their place years prior. One takeaway in her life is to take a leap of faith, start that dream or goal, and see where it takes you. Many people delay, waiting for more time or money, only to find themselves looking back with regret later in life. This advice made me reflect on what I’ve been holding myself back from doing. Instead of making excuses for myself, I want to accomplish more of what I want to do while I still can. For instance, that could mean traveling to another continent after graduation or starting a business. 

Overall, I thought the interview was insightful and full of lessons I could apply to my life.