On June 2, the ALA community welcomed Chris Bradford, co-founder of ALA, back to campus, where he spoke to current students. He reminded them just how extraordinary their position is. “Each of you,” he said, “is in an enviable position.” Not because of where you come from. Not because of where you are now. But because of your trajectory. That was the theme of the talk: how trajectory—more than position—shapes our future. It was a conversation about chemistry, collisions, and what really fuels a meaningful life.
Bradford challenged students to reflect: “What’s the fuel in your rocket?”
Life is Powered by Collisions
Drawing a powerful metaphor from chemistry, he likened life to a series of collisions—just like the molecular reactions that power the world around us. Some collisions do nothing. Others spark transformation. The question is: how are you orienting yourself for those collisions?
Are you open? Curious? Generous?
He shared a personal story. Years ago, a chance encounter—a moment of selfless help—led him to meet someone who would become a key figure in his journey. It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t strategic. But because he responded with generosity, it shifted his path. That one interaction, that one “collision,” had ripple effects.
This, he said, is the kind of openness that can change your life.
Joseph and the Power of Generous Orientation
Mr. Bradford told another story—this time of Joseph Munyambanza ‘08, an ALA alumnus. Each time a guest speaker came to talk to students, Joseph would approach the speakers, not to impress them, but to share something meaningful about his home community. That small act of connection, repeated again and again, eventually led him to build the highest-performing primary school in a refugee camp.
Joseph didn’t begin with prestige or recognition. But he oriented himself with respect, curiosity, and generosity—and it changed everything.
The Chemistry of Growth
Bradford dove deeper into the metaphor. For a collision to spark a reaction, the concentration of particles must be high. In the same way, growth happens when you're surrounded by people who challenge and inspire you.
“Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you,” he recalled hearing from James Watson. At ALA, that opportunity is right there. The concentration is high. The question is: are you stepping forward or hiding behind your screen?
He warned against the comfort of low-concentration environments—places that feel familiar but offer little growth. Real progress requires friction, challenge, and, yes, discomfort.
Because as any chemist knows: heat and pressure increase the frequency of collisions.
Lean Into the Heat
All great learning involves tension. Challenge. Sweat. Bradford urged students not to run from that pressure but to see it for what it is: the environment in which transformation becomes possible.
“Tough times produce tough minds,” he said.
To leave your mark on the world—to change your community, your industry, your country—you’ll need both your work boots and your lab coat. Because collisions don’t just happen. They’re created, curated, and powered by action.
What’s Your Trajectory?
Bradford closed with a message that struck deep: In life, your position will change. Sometimes you’ll be ahead. Sometimes behind. But your trajectory—your willingness to grow, to connect, to lean into discomfort—will always matter more.
So ask yourself:
- How are you orienting yourself in your collisions?
- Who are you surrounding yourself with?
- Are you stepping into rooms that challenge you?
- Are you working toward a trajectory that will take you where you want to go?
Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about where you are. It’s about where you’re headed
