Sibrina Speaks

     The year 2020 has been tremendously difficult, challenging, and so hurtful. How did I manage to keep my head above water this year? I could not have achieved anything in 2020 without the amazing support of friends and family. Honestly, I kept going because of them.      If anyone had told me that in the year 2020, I would publish a new book chapter focused on "superhero chemistry" and two articles in both Nature and Nature Chemistry focusing on achieving equity in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines , I would not have believed it. In addition, I actually officiated my little sister's wedding this year! Furthermore, I turned 50 years old in 2020, which actually still shocks me. There were so many milestones achieved in 2020. However, like all of you, I am looking forward to the year 2021. In other words, I am truly looking forward to new spaces and places called 'better.' Happy New Year everyone! Sibrina #HappyNewYear2021

     This morning, I watched a church sermon online, where the pastor talked about the life of the la te  Chadwick Boseman, who is indeed #oursuperhero. Yes, dealing with a lot is so hard. A critically important life lesson is that even in the midst of your most difficult circumstances and experiences, you can still be productive.      I was absolutely heartbroken when I heard the news of his passing. He was so young. For me, this hurts because the movie Black Panther made a significant impact on me personally and professionally. As a chemist an educator, I have focused on connecting with young people and doing my very best to make the chemistry curriculum accessible to the broader community. This type of equity and inclusion work is tremendously hard and why this loss hurts so very much.      After watching movies like Black Panther and Hidden Figures , I somehow felt I had been given the absolute permission to walk in my purpose. In other words, I truly felt empowered. I was inspire

During the Easter holiday, I watched a church service online from a wonderful pastor in the Midwest, whose sermon focused on making a successful comeback in your life, when you face difficult circumstances. He emphasized that there are unfortunately moments in your life, where you may have been fired or dismissed from a job, and that others may believe that you will never be able to accept what has happened to you and move forward. One key point that the pastor emphasized is that you can make a successful comeback without being hateful to others. Specifically, that even a little bit of success is the best revenge. How can you make a successful comeback without hate? Here are some of my thoughts:    (1) Supportive Friends and Family! A supportive network is absolutely essential to make a successful comeback personally or professionally. Everyone needs a supportive space (No Judgement Zone), where you are able to express your emotions and feelings without being jud

As the Coronavirus continues to hurt communities globally, we do have some super heroes walking among us, who are working diligently to mitigate the impact. First, let me be very clear. I absolutely love T'Challa, Shuri, Killmonger, Princess Leia and Lando Calrissian. As much as we enjoy watching  block buster films such as Marvel Studios' Black Panther and The Avengers , the real super heroes are amazing individuals we encounter every single day, namely nurses, doctors and scientists fighting for all of us and putting their lives on the line. I have wonderful family members and colleagues in the health care industry that I wish to thank for their tireless efforts to help us. You are appreciated and truly loved. I also want to celebrate employees working practically non-stop in grocery stores and folks delivering products and food to those who need it. Thank you! There are tons of super heroes among us, but I just want to highlight a few. Lawrence Technological Univer