Making It Matter: What Does It Mean to Live a Life of Significance?
The questions often pose themselves at watershed moments: at a college reunion, on a milestone birthday, at the passing of a friend. Or they arise unbidden, while you are commuting to work or waiting for sleep to arrive: What am I doing with my life? Does it matter? Read full introduction
In the interviews linked below, you will meet a number of Weinberg College community members who have sought to answer the query: “What does it mean to live a life of significance?” Their answers are as varied as the paths they have chosen. But all have drawn on the College’s traditions of inquiry, research and reflection to fashion a life that each finds abundantly worth living.
Darlene Clark Hine
"The goal is to become a transformative agent in the struggle against social inequalities, ignorance and exploitation."
Joan King Salwen '82
"In my work, I devote myself to girls and young women, supporting them as they explore and develop their curiosity, tenacity and resilience."
Robert Kett '09
"What I really enjoy about the work I do, and academic work in general, is that it helps us rethink everyday life."
Sarah Suh '14
"As students, we’re always thinking about the future — about midterms and finals coming up, or internships and jobs that we need to apply for. I started to wonder, what am I going to do when I finally get to that future?"
Professor Mark Ratner
"Applying science to help the world deal with sustainability is rewarding at a deep, emotional level."
ADAM R. KARR '93
"I come from a background that was disadvantaged, and Northwestern created opportunities that changed my life."
Chelsea Brown '02
"People write to say that you’ve made a positive impact at a very negative point in their lives. I save all those notes."