Roberta Bondar
A Canadian Role Model
What Roberta Bondar was Involved In
Inspiration and Achievements
photography
Roberta Bondar was always inspired by her photography, and as she says in her TED talk in Waterloo University, "I wanted to take pictures to be able to show people that we are living on a planet, and how wonderful this planet was; this planet is unique. Show me a tree somewhere else!" Roberta always saw the beauty in this world, the beauty that we take for granted. Looking at the art of world is similar to looking at the science of the world, to learn about the world and to do research on the world, you must first recognize the beauty of the world.
How Roberta Bondar Shows Leadership
Roberta Bondar, as I mentioned before was the first Canadian woman and the first neurologist in space. Her journey does not end there, though. Although Roberta Bondar will probably never go to space again, and she has retired as a researcher and neurologist, she continues to attend events as a guest speaker. Even though her personal goals may have been accomplished, she wants to continue to help other people learn and gain from her experience. She talks at schools and universities, and she does TED talks. Roberta is a great leader because of this, because she not only accomplished her own goals to the highest ability, but she wants to help others do this as well. As John Quincy Adams, sixith president of the United States said, “If your actions inspire other to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a true leader.”
leadership traits
Lead from the front - but don't leave your base behind
Nothing is black or white
Whether she is conducting serious research or taking pictures of the sunset, Roberta Bondar never sees the world with few options in mind. Although Roberta Bondar is a neurologist, she is also a professional photographer and an astronaut. There are no limits for yourself, and you should be able to pursue what you want to. Roberta Bondar did not have to go to space and produce research for the space community, but she did because Roberta Bondar seeks out new opportunities, accepts change, and embraces all opportunities she can. To see all aspects of life, and to see the world as a rainbow instead of black and white, you cannot limit yourself to one option; you must explore.
courage is not the absence of fear - it's inspiring others to move beyond it
No astronaut can ever be too prepared to go to space. Space couldn’t be MORE different than the Earth. There is no oxygen, no gravity, none of the elements of life we are used to. Roberta Bondar, being a neurologist, must have had a long, scary experience leading up to takeoff. Although Roberta Bondar must have been scared out of her mind, she knew she had to go to space to help us learn, and to conduct her research. Roberta acted and still does act courageous about her voyage to inspire people. If she can go into space with a brave face, the average person can do about anything.
sources
"Dr. Roberta Bondar." Dr. Roberta Bondar. Web. 28 Sept. 2015. <http://www.robertabondar.com/speaker.php>.
"Celebrating Women's Achievements." Web. 28 Sept. 2015. <https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/women/030001-1402-e.html>.