CHRISTOPHER BERNHARDT

Growing up in Dallas, I only saw fireworks from a distance. But one year, we had a large family 4th of July celebration with extended relatives in Amarillo. This was the first time I was able to actually shoot fireworks myself. Wow! Each firework was a new and unique experience. It was an amazing life experience and will never forget it.

I was a Special Education teacher for six months and spent that time serving a wide range of students, some of whom needed significant support. Educators are amazing people and special education teachers have seemingly unending stores of patience and perspective. Some of my students were working through many challenges and to see the faculty come back to school each day, with enough mental reserves to support all their students, was a true inspiration. I learned many important life lessons including how to look for unique talents in each person, depersonalizing conflict, and never giving up on others.

Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX. She joined SpaceX early on and has been instrumental in their success, including disrupting the space industry. Not only would I really like to hear her perspectives on leadership, but I would like to thank her for helping make space exciting again!

Mountains. Reaching the summit of one of Colorado’s “fourteeners” or 14,000 ft. mountains like Long’s Peak is how I mentally reset.

“American Reboot” by Will Hurd. I was deeply inspired be the reminder of what Americans can all achieve, together.