Gabby Brennan

My name is Gabby Brennan, and I am a student at One Stone’s Lab51. I love science, theater, and storytelling. I try to be a kind face that people can come to if they have a problem or need a shoulder to cry on. My personal vision statement is “Break the Fourth Wall.” Break the Fourth Wall is a term used in theater to describe an actor talking or connecting to the audience directly, breaking down the metaphorical wall that separates the audience from the story. I chose this term as my vision statement because it is about connection and relationships which is what I think about when I envision my future. My artifact is a collage that highlights quotes from empathy interviews I have done during Design Lab. I often find after an interview that I discover new inspiration to keep going with the project. The interview reminds me why what I’m doing is important. To me “being the good” is about inspiration. It is about getting inspired to do good and inspiring others through your actions. These interviews have inspired me to make a change as I hope it will for others. They have inspired me to be the good. One interview I got to be a part of this term was with Jodi Peterson, the Executive Director of Interfaith Sanctuary. This was a really impactful experience for me because her passion is infectious. She not only talked about how substance abuse is affecting people experiencing homelessness but how we can attack the issue as a whole. She had some really meaningful insights and getting to work with her really inspired me. Over the past couple of weeks I have had opportunities to dive into my T-Popper and start to understand my passions. I have had the chance to dive into subjects I am interested in learning about like astronomy and foster skills that I can put to use both now and in the future like knitting and math. I have also had the chance to discover new things I am interested in like writing. I think I have also worked this past term to find a balance with the amount of work I take on and have really grown in being aware of how I’m feeling so that when I have committed to doing something I can give it my all. I am very excited to continue this work over the next term and gain a better understanding of myself and what I want to do in the world.