Breaking Barriers.

Today's Marketing Cookie is about how perseverance and determination can lead to groundbreaking achievements, even against significant prejudice and obstacles.

Have you ever had a dream so powerful that you were willing to do whatever it took to achieve it? What obstacles did you face? Did you ever feel like giving up? 

I'd like to share an inspiring story about Bess. She was determined to become a doctor and applied to every medical school she could find, only to be rejected by all 29 colleges. Bess refused to give up. One day, a miracle happened. She received word that an all-male medical school in Geneva, New York, had accidentally accepted her application. 

She faced immense prejudice and skepticism from her professors and classmates, who all knew that her enrollment was a mistake. They did not believe a woman should be attending their school. Her professors forced her to sit separately from male students during lectures and often excluded her from participating in laboratory sessions or clinical training. One professor even suggested she excuse herself from the anatomy lessons on human reproduction, deeming it an inappropriate topic for a woman's "delicate mind."

Without any financial support from her family after her father's death, Bess had to work as a teacher to fund her medical education, adding to her already heavy burden. Yet, she persevered, driven by an unwavering passion for medicine and a desire to prove herself. Her relentless hard work paid off when she graduated first in her class. Despite this remarkable achievement, her moment of triumph was again tarnished by gender bias, as she was called up last to receive her degree, after every other male student was recognized. 

Affectionately called "Little Shy" by her father, Bess may have been soft-spoken and never sought attention, but she possessed a fierce determination that drove her to break barriers and defy expectations. You see, Bess's journey wasn't just to become a doctor; she became the first woman doctor in American history.

Bess's full name, Elizabeth Blackwell, is synonymous with quiet strength and unwavering perseverance that can lead to groundbreaking achievements. The relentless pursuit of her dream paved the way for future generations of women in medicine, demonstrating that resilience and dedication can overcome even the most entrenched biases. Her life is a shining example of the truth in today's fortune as it says, "You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try."