Harvard Law School's First Deaf & Blind Graduate — Haben Girma

Haben Girma is the 1st person to graduate from Harvard who is both deaf + blind. She is a bay area based, disability rights activist attorney. She has been named on the Forbes 30 under 30 for Law and Policy and has made several visits to The White House, and was recognized by the Obama Administration as a "Champion of Change." She enjoys participating in physical activities including surfing, rock climbing, kayaking, cycling, and dancing. Episode Highlights // 0:00 - intro / background 0:50 - what qualities do you admire most in your parents? 2:04 - more interesting facts about your Eritrean ethnicity? 2:27 - where do you get your gift of comedic prowess from and why is it important? 4:03 - why community is so important 5:40 - why there is often a negative connotation with lawyers 6:21 - who is a hero of yours and why? 7:11 - your advice for finding your purpose in the world if you aren’t sure… 8:59 - what separates those who persevere through adversity and those who find fuel from it? 12:14 - why do you have a problem with the word inspiration? 13:35 - what do you mean when you say, “disability isn’t something we overcome?” 16:01 - what do you remember about meeting President Obama? 18:48 - other activities / hobbies you look forward to pursuing? 19:45 - what makes conflict and saying “no” difficult for many people and how can we better handle it? 21:48 - what advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?