Technological innovations continue to invade nearly every aspect of our lives. George Orwell's prediction in his novel 1984 of "ubiquitous surveillance" may have come true. Every click you make, every web page you view, every communication you make using digital technology can be tracked. Marketing researchers analyze this data to tailor advertising campaigns targeting you as an individual. Talking about cute clothes at a specific store while your phone is 'sleeping' may generate ads for that store on your social media feeds. Researching a political issue may result in targeted political ads appearing on your social media feeds. Every day, your digital profile is expanded and revised. These profiles summarize who you are as a consumer or potential consumer. But, who are you to yourself?

You are a magazine writer assigned to do a profile of the person who influenced your choice of degree program - not just going back to school or pursuing an education but choosing your specific field. OR, you can select a person who has contributed to your chosen field of study significantly.

• From among this week's biographies, who do you think your chosen person would have wanted as a friend and why?
• From among this week's biographies, who might have been a good mentor for your person? Or who might your person have mentored?
• Does your chosen person share any character traits with people from this week's resources?