German chancellor Angela Merkel may look like an ordinary woman. She dresses commonly and doesn't show many feelings. But don't let appearance fool you.
As the first woman chancellor in Germany's history, Merkel has toppedForbesmagazine's list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" six times. She has even been compared to Margaret Thatcher and many people call her "Iron Lady".
Merkel was born in Hamburg, West Germany, on 17 July 1954. As a small child, she quickly learnt to speak but it took longer for her to walk. "I was a stupid person when it came to moving," Merkel said. "A normal person could do something naturally, but I had to think about it in my mind and practise." As a teenager, she was the top student in high school. In 1973, Merkel went to the University of Leipzig, where she studied Physics.
At 32, she got her doctor's degree in Physics. She stepped into politics(政坛) in 1989. In her first big political job as Minister for the Environment in 1994, her scientific background and strong will proved very useful. In 2019 she became Germany's chancellor. Through her political career, Merkel's persistence(坚持) and patience helped her a lot." She's bright and openminded," said Hubert Markl, a German biologist. "She is the person who wants to know exactly what is going on, and how never giving up will influence our society and future."
