A Slight Change of Plans Olympian Gabby Thomas On Choosing Happiness
Aug 19, 2024
Gabby Thomas, a U.S. track star and Olympic medalist with a master's in public health, shares her unique journey navigating the complexities of athletics and academia. She discusses her evolving relationship with running, revealing how personal ambitions and societal expectations have shaped her. Gabby also dives into her joy of competing at the Olympics and the challenges she faced in balancing her sports career with public health aspirations. Her transformative experiences, including a pivotal trip to Senegal, provided clarity on her passions.
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Obligation Over Passion
- Success can compel us to continue even without passion because we feel obligated.
- Society pushes the idea of not wasting talent, which may override personal happiness.
Mindset Shift From Coach
- A coach helped Gabby shift her mindset by teaching her the value of hard work and effort.
- This mindset shift transcended running and helped her grow as a person.
Class Revealed Medical Racism
- A class at Harvard exposed Gabby to medical racism history, including the Tuskegee study and Henrietta Lacks.
- This was eye-opening and something she was never taught before in school.