Mae Jemison - Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations
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Welcome to The Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and today is November 8th. Today, we’re celebrating National STEM/STEAM Day, a day dedicated to highlighting the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math—sometimes with a side of Art thrown in for good measure.
Whether you loved or loathed these subjects in school, today is a reminder of just how essential they are in shaping the world around us.
So, in the spirit of embracing STEM, today’s quote comes from Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel into space. She said,
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
Now, I’ll admit, there are certain math and statistics equations that I don't remember as being exactly “imaginative.” But that’s the beauty of what Jemison is saying here. She’s reminding us that, even though science and math may seem rigid or intimidating at first, these subjects are a launchpad for creativity, discovery, and—literally in her case—pushing beyond the limits of the Earth.
STEM fields often get a bad rap for being, well, a little “square” or unimaginative. Yet it’s within these fields that some of the most groundbreaking ideas have emerged: everything from decoding the human genome to landing a rover on Mars. Science, technology, engineering, and math aren’t just the means to a career; they’re the way we push forward, test limits, and think beyond what’s been done before.
And let’s not forget: Jemison’s advice doesn’t stop with students. You can apply this idea to any field or endeavor. If you’ve got an interest or a skill you’re not using to its full potential, consider today a nudge to explore it more deeply. Don’t let anyone’s lack of vision keep you from discovering your potential—especially in those areas that might feel a little bit outside your comfort zone.
So, whether you’re a math whiz or a tech newbie, remember Mae Jemison’s words. Embrace the knowledge, try something new, and don’t let anyone else’s “limited imagination” hold you back. That’s how discoveries are made.
And I'd like to look back to a previous quote we covered back on July 15th of this year. It was World Youth Skills Day and the quote was from Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway and an amazing example of the power of STEM. He founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to inspiring young people to be science and technology leaders. Here’s what he has to say
"You have teenagers thinking they're going to make millions as NBA stars when that's not realistic for even 1 percent of them. Becoming a scientist or engineer is."
Dean is stating the obvious fact that kids that learn STEM fields are better off than those that don't.
Which is kind of the point of today's holiday... if you want the best way to make a lot of money STEM is a safe bet and don't let anyone else get in your way. As Mae Jemison said,
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
Thanks for joining me today. May your day be filled with curiosity and maybe just a little bit of STEM-inspired wonder. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for today... but... I'll be back tomorrow for another Daily Quote.