Meghann Seidner, Venice Beach Photo by Barry Epstein
Luke, Ryan and I would have many discussions about their study interests as they thought about university. They probably were already predisposed to the notion of going to university since I had taken them to open house days since they were toddlers! But I never pushed them into any career and I just wanted to see what they liked and tried to instill passion in everything that they do. If they thought of something, I would go out and get more information on that subject to see the idea would grow. They both chose engineering and seemed to be set in their ways about it and there was nothing I really needed to do. This was clear in their minds. But some of their 12th grade friends were undecided and I asked if I could help and several of them, whom I’ d known since they were little kids, spoke to me. This is something that I enjoy even though some did not comply with my advice. I was able to provide some information and I made some appointments with them with people working in the industry to get first hand data on what that job is all about. Most of these involved life sciences which I was involved with.
Another successful and very rewarding mentoring experience was with Jonathon Morison, the son of my very good friend Ian and his wife Linda, whom I’ ve known for more than 23 years. Linda was born in America and has a sweet Southern accent even though she lived in Australia for so long. They live in a small town called Bunbury that is about a 2 hour drive south of Perth. Every time we visit Linda and Ian laughter is always present when we are together. Sometimes we stay at their home that is near the beach and they make us feel so very comfortable during our visit.
I was fortunate enough to see their two lovely children Jono and Kathryn grow up over the years and turn into very nice adults. When Jono was studying science at the University of Western Australia he didn’ t seem to know what his career path
Linda & Ian Morison was after he graduated so we had some discussion about this. I was able to get him to meet a very enthusiastic and well educated person working as a Chief Scientific Officer in a very exciting public listed life sciences company in the area of molecular biology. He spoke about the various careers of life sciences and suggested a change in study towards molecular biology that was a booming area. He took Jono around his laboratory and introduced him to many of the scientists who were each highly enthusiastic and were eager to show Jono their specific projects that they were involved. Jono left this first class research
Jonathon Morison facility with a tremendous buzz.
BARRY STEVEN EPSTEIN- PhotoAutobiography DRAFT 113 of 156