#2 Danielle Strachman on building the Thiel Fellowship & the 1517 fund and the importance to rebel

Join us on this cozy episode of dropUp as we journey with Danielle Strachman, the bold co-founder of the Thiel Fellowship and the 1517 fund. Danielle shares her journey from choosing an unconventional educational path to leading a rebellion against rigid academic norms. She's a believer in individuality, inspiring listeners to reclaim their playful spirit of learning. Danielle's resilience shines through her endeavors, from creating a tutoring company to building a charter school. Her experiences shaped her advocacy for positive activism and a freer, more personalized education system.

 

Timestamp:

[00:01:35] Premature birth and creative upbringing.
[00:07:00] Early love of teaching, finding social role.
[00:11:47] School experience: music, fitting in, independence, flow. [00:16:40] Intellectual stimulation.
[00:23:39] Learning in school shaped and empowered me.
[00:29:03] Got deep in grad school, questioned path. Found calling in education, tutoring company.
[00:35:14] Adult stages of development often overlooked in society. Quarter and midlife crises seen as negative, but actually important milestones. Development should be approached with consciousness and a growth mindset.
[00:40:05] Passion for young people and human rights; changing definition of "young person"; struggle to find fitting role; opportunity with the Thiel Foundation and 1517; big impact and connection with individuals.
[00:48:42] Struggles and rewards of starting a school.
[00:59:26] Play extinguished, lack of learning from elders. Oberlin's culture crushed by administration.
[01:08:32] Students unaware of the need to challenge institutions. [01:13:52] Stepping out of comfort zone for activism. Quality over quantity. Using anger as fuel for change.

 

The sponsor for this episode is no other than Danielle's fund, the 1517 : https://www.1517fund.com – If you are a dropout, builder, or founder, you should definitely check all the ways they bring capital to young people!

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