Day: October 30, 2021

Distinguished scientist Li Liu grew up in a traditional Chinese family with her father being the General of the 13th Army in the CCP, while her mother was a battlefield doctor. She later attended Beijing University, where she found her mentor who put her on the first ever Polymer Chemistry project that was sponsored by the country. By age 22, she was already nominated and awarded with “National Chemistry Engineer”.

Even with all this success early in her career, Liu notes that historically, women in China were not widely respected in the 50s and 60s. She states:

“Back then, everything was strictly regulated in terms of what women could or could not do. Most women had no choice but to be suppressed for their entire life…”

Aside from these societal pressures, Liu also suffered from health issues throughout her life given her constant exposure to various chemicals at a very young age. She went on to develop severe symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and even tumors.

Even still, Liu has persevered against all odds and has found much success throughout her career, being recognized as a top scientist in her field. She is now a tenured professor, and was one of the first Chinese women to be granted visiting scholars status to prestigious universities like Carnegie Mellon and Cambridge University.

Along the way, Liu has learned that study and research should be a lifelong and ongoing process, stating:

“No one shall limit themselves in terms of how much they can learn.”

When times get tough, Liu has found it most helpful to de-stress by going on long runs through the park to clear her mind. Aside from being a chemistry professor, she is also a nutritionist, loving the time she gets to spend with her family cooking and preparing meals and knowing how important taking care of your health is.

After a long and rewarding career, Liu is planning on celebrating her retirement next year with a huge ceremony in celebration, though she states firmly that she will continue her research and studies even after retiring, showing her dedication to being a lifelong learner. 

Image source: fairobserver.com

Over the years, among the controversial topics that have become an integral part of people’s conversations are those relating to politics. As a matter of fact, gone are the days when only those who are associated with or directly involved in public office are willing to participate in addressing political issues. In this day and age, being politically aware is not only desirable but imperative.

In retrospect, politics has always been at the forefront of many changes, developments, and breakthroughs in society. Together with only a few other social constructs and branches, it has transformed the lives of millions of people from across the globe. Whether a person likes to admit it or not, their views and decisions are molded and dictated by courses of action taken by elected representatives. In light of recent happenings, every person must stay informed or at least aware of recent advances in the political world.

Due to the diverse nature of multiple sectors in society, citizens share and perceive their political views differently. As time goes by, public governance tends to impact lives more substantially than ever. This is because the representatives and officials chosen by the people will always have a bearing on the payment of taxes, handling of finances, and putting up infrastructure.

Contrary to what most people think, staying apolitical does more harm than good to society. In a way, those who choose not to get involved in political topics and discussions are sleeping on their rights to advocate for positive change and create a difference. In other words, it is highly encouraged that citizens be more proactive when it comes to political matters. At the end of the day, political awareness is not only about politicians but is also about each and every member of society.

Out of the available tools in a democratic country, the right to vote is deemed to be the most important of them all. However, exercising this right also entails upholding the duty and responsibility of staying updated with political developments and other public issues. There is no better way of choosing public officials and representatives than by keeping abreast of politics.

Through political awareness, one can have more knowledge about what is happening in the world. In fact, this knowledge does not only pertain to issues in the realm of politics but in others as well. By being informed, one is more capable of making better decisions for themselves and the rest of the community members.

For others, politics may appear to be a complicated field to engage in. Moreover, a lot of people may also feel powerless about it and believe that their opinions will not matter. However, there are numerous ways that one can make their voices be heard. Through the collective efforts of individuals from around the world, small changes can very well make a significant impact on a global scale. Therefore, one should not underestimate the power of political awareness and involvement. Much of society’s problems can be overcome when everyone carries their fair share of responsibility as private citizens.

References:

https://studybreaks.com/thoughts/5-reasons-political-aware/

https://picante.today/politics/2020/01/29/130817/political-awareness-and-its-importance/