"The Life And Legacy Of Dr. Jane Goodall: Her Timeless Words Of Wisdom," Article Reflection No. 157 (10/11/2025)
- Mary
- Oct 11
- 2 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
In the article “The Life And Legacy Of Dr. Jane Goodall: Her Timeless Words Of Wisdom,” journalist Marianne Schnall reports on Dr. Jane Goodall’s death and legacy, sharing key moments from interviews that are especially memorable to the writer (Schnall herself). From Goodall’s emphasis on the importance of empowering younger people to bring change, to her resolved belief in hope across the globe, the article describes the various causes that the environmentalist stood for throughout her life.
Personally, I think this idea of holding hope in the face of political polarization and everything else that are going on in the world right now is so powerful. Even reading her words makes me feel more empowered and they inspire me to be more purposeful in my day-to-day life. Of all the interview quotes, the one that especially stood out to me was this: “‘[w]e each have this one life gifted to us. I feel that my life is a gift that I want to try to use as wisely as I can, and I want to make use of each of these amazing days that come my way to try and make a bit of difference.’” As stated in the article, this was her response to a question about life’s meaning, and this response is exactly what I aspire to live by. Looking back at Dr. Goodall’s legacy, she really gave so much to the world—from her Roots & Shoots organization to her conservation work—and something I truly, truly admire is her humility. I aspire to become someone like her—who, in the middle of the journey of bringing positive change, realizes and remains humble all the way throughout. I really, really hope that her words will continue to ring true for years and years to come.
What is the best way to preserve legacies like Dr. Goodall's?
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