April
5
It’s been some time since I wrote a blog entry… and I have been feeling guilty! Even my Mom has asked why I haven’t posted anything about my travels. With the Women in Public Service event in December, where I met Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Verveer; the New York Academy of Science Nobel Night, celebrating women in science; the Association of American Colleges and Universities meeting in DC; and dinners with Scripps constituents in New York, DC, LA, Orange County, San Diego… life has not been dull.
However, I felt it would take something really special to enter back in to the blog arena. Sunday, I had the honor of joining Gabby Giffords ‘93, Mark Kelly, Claire Kelly (future Scripps student perhaps?!), Marc Winkelman (P’07) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz at Mark and Gabby’s home for a lovely family brunch. Gabby looked radiant, with her beautiful smile and incredibly upbeat personality. She is working hard on her recovery ~ with long hours devoted to rehab ~ and her perseverance and positive attitude is inspirational. I presented Gabby with a photo book of the event the Scripps College community held in celebration of the book she and Mark wrote, along with the cards written by people who attended the event. Mark got a kick out of that: A book about the book! I also gave her a handmade book from Camp Scripps alumnae, and she enjoyed every page, as well as CDs of Scripps faculty music by Anne Harley and Hao and Rachel Huang. Of course, I gave her all of the best wishes of the Scripps community and told her how much we are looking forward to having her back to visit campus, perhaps for her 20th reunion next spring, if not before!
During the conversation, we talked about the Women in Public Service initiative, which promises to be a wonderful contribution to support women’s leadership globally, but we also talked about the need to encourage more women to participate in public service in our own country. Congress is only 17% female, despite the fact that women make up 51% of our population. And the US ranks 71st in the world in for the percentage of women in public office. Several of us have talked about the role Scripps College might play in helping our graduates and other women consider running for office… more work to do on that score!
As we head into April, a month with as many delights as headaches (thesis and exams), and the true joy of commencement in May, we can all reflect on the many gifts we have in our lives. Friends and family, together a College with a mission to which we all contribute on a daily basis: “to educate women to develop their intellects and talents through active participation in a community of scholars, so that as graduates they may contribute to society through public and private lives of leadership, service, integrity, and creativity.”
