*A creative writing class at Princeton University led to one of the most important relationships in MacKenzie Scott‘s life.
As a student, Scott studied under Toni Morrison, the Nobel Prize-winning author who later became her senior thesis advisor, Inc. reports. The mentorship extended far beyond the classroom and influenced Scott’s approach to writing, work, and opportunity.
When Scott enrolled at Princeton, Morrison had just won the Pulitzer Prize for “Beloved,” and Scott set her sights on taking at least one class with her.
“This woman was busy — there were a lot of demands on her time,” Scott said during the 2017 dedication of Morrison Hall at Princeton. “I honestly expected to be on my own to nurture my own interest in writing with whatever she had left to give me.”
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Instead, Morrison became Scott’s senior thesis advisor and one of the most influential figures in her life. Scott later said Morrison demonstrated how a person could devote themselves to more than one meaningful pursuit.
“This teaching thing was a true second passion,” Scott said. “She has given me a real example of a life of passionate devotion to more than one calling.”
That lesson stayed with Scott after graduation in 1992. Morrison guided her work on a 168-page thesis novel called “The Fathering Water,” which later inspired Scott’s first published book, “The Testing of Luther Albright.”
The mentorship did not end when Scott left Princeton. Morrison also helped launch Scott’s professional career by recommending her for a position at D. E. Shaw & Co.
The job proved significant for another reason. Shortly after joining the firm, Scott met her future husband, Jeff Bezos, Afro Tech reports. Scott later helped build Amazon and eventually donated billions of dollars to charitable causes, including historically Black colleges and universities. Through each stage of that journey, Morrison’s influence remained a constant presence.
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