A leader and woman in STEM whom I admire greatly is Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA's first female launch director. Blackwell-Thompson graduated with a degree in Computer Science from Clemson University in South Carolina, my previous home state, and began her career working for Boeing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center as a payload flight software engineer in the historic, and very male-dominated, Firing Room 1. During her time with Boeing, she worked on software and systems for multiple Space Shuttle missions until finally joining NASA officially in 2004 as a Test Director. Today, as Launch Director and leader of that firing room, she and her teams oversee launch operations and run simulations preparing for the first missions of the Artemis Program, and to send the very first woman to the moon. As a non-traditional student, my path to a career in engineering differs from Charlie Blackwell-Thompson's, but my goals take me to the very same room that first inspired her. In pursuit of my goals, I returned to school in January 2020, starting with classes at my local technical college. That Summer, I was also accepted to the Florida Institute of Technology, right in the heart of Florida's "Space Coast", for their BS Aerospace Engineering program. My eventual goal is to intern and participate in an engineering co-op program at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. I dream of finding my own place in the Firing Rooms in support of Launch Operations and helping to pave the way for the next generation of women and men who will journey to the moon. In pursuit of my dreams, I have become an active participant in Florida Tech's chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics. I have also joined the Spaceport America Cup rocket competition team serving on the propulsion sub-team. To grow my skills as a leader, I ran for a seat on the executive board of AIAA at Florida Tech in April, and now have the privilege of serving as Secretary of AIAA for the 2022/23 school year. I plan to spend this next year serving alongside and learning from some of the best student leaders on campus as I support the President and Vice President and the mission of AIAA. Upon completion of my degree program, I plan to continue as a member of the local professional chapter of AIAA. I will grow my leadership skills through active participation in STEM engagement programs in the local community, providing mentorship for the next generation of students. I am an avid, driven learner and will also seek growth in my workplace through self-study, workshops, and opportunities to serve with and learn from fellow leaders throughout my career.

My biggest influence, what drives me and motivates me most, is a passion for space exploration and a strong desire to be a part of the team that tackles such an incredible challenge! I have always been excited by and excelled in my studies of science and technology. In elementary school, I remember watching shuttle launches on TV with amazement and I have fond memories of visiting NASA's Kennedy Space Center with my family. Though my attention in high school shifted to technology for my first degree, my true passion for science and space have never waned. I've kept a very close eye on a quickly changing space industry and, in the last couple of years, have started to dream again about chasing my true passion for space. In early 2019, I had the opportunity to participate in an experience that completely shifted my perspective. I was selected to attend the NASA Social for SpaceX’s Demo-1 mission. What followed were two packed days of touring NASA Kennedy’s facilities and meeting and learning from NASA engineers and scientists directly involved with the launch and other important projects. For the first time, I was able to see for myself the kind of creativity, problem-solving, and big picture thinking that each one of them put into solving some truly incredible challenges. The weekend ended with an in-person night launch viewing only a couple of miles from the pad. It was the first time I personally experienced the deep roar of the engines and saw a rocket leap from the pad. I can’t capture the emotions, but I knew then that I wanted to be part of the team that helps make that happen. At the beginning of 2020, I ultimately decided to return to college to pursue an engineering degree. I enrolled in a local technical school in a Mechanical Engineering transfer program, focusing on strengthening my core math and science skills and preparing to apply to a four-year program. Throughout my courses this year, I have maintained a 3.9 GPA. Knowing that my plans will lead to Florida's Space Coast, I researched my options and eventually applied for transfer admission to the Florida Institute of Technology in their BS Aerospace Engineering program. I have already been accepted and will move to Florida next year to begin their program in Fall 2021. In pursuit of my goals, I also applied for and was accepted for participation in a new NASA training program called the Lucy Student Pipeline Accelerator and Competency Enabler in their Mission Concept Academy. L'SPACE was a virtual 12-week, rigorous professional workforce development program held May-August that focused on developing skills relevant to the space industry. Throughout the experience, I learned mission protocols, procedures, and practices from NASA scientists and engineers and gained experience communicating and working with a distributed team of students. I believe I can use my passion for space, my creativity, and curiosity to help support a team of other like-minded people and work together to solve important real-world problems. As an engineer, working at NASA or any other space launch company, I know I would have the opportunity to contribute to the launches of satellites and research that help to monitor and combat droughts, support agriculture, and develop new medicines and technologies. It would also allow me the opportunity to inspire other women like myself in an industry where we are traditionally under-represented. These opportunities and challenges are what drive me in all of my current pursuits!