France Anne Cordova

(gryphonscry.wordpress.com)

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” (Robert Frost). This line from Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken, describes France Cordova well. As the President of Purdue University, she challenged students to look beyond the present and into the future to determine what they want to accomplish in life (“France Anne Cordova”). In 1984, Science Digest named Cordova among “America's 100 Brightest Scientists Under 40” for her attempts to unlock the secrets of the universe (“France Anne Cordova”). Later on, NASA appointed her chief scientist; making France the second woman to hold that title (“France Anne Cordova”). Although many people in her time thought that women would get married after college, France Cordova believed that getting an education was more important and worth the experience of a lifetime. With her perseverance and hard work, she didn’t let her English degree or what people said get in her way of pursuing her one true love and encouraging kids everywhere along the way.

France Cordova (http://www.latina.ms/france7.jpg)

Expecting a boy on August 5, 1947, Frederick Cordova and his wife were surprised when the baby turned out to be a girl. He “planned to name the child Frederick III. The mother even embroidered a little 'F' on all the baby's clothes. When the baby turned out to be a girl, she was baptized Françoise in the Notre Dame Cathedral. (Cordova later Americanized the name to France). Cordova grew up in California as the big sister who helped care for 11 siblings. Despite the ever-present demands at home, Cordova managed to study hard and received top grades at school” (“France Anne Cordova”). Not only was Cordova named one of the “10 Outstanding Youth” in California, but also earned a B.A. with distinction from Stanford University in 1969 ("Córdova, France Anne (1947-)."). “As a way of recognizing Cordova's contribution to the Mars Pathfinder Space Program, NASA put her name inside a spacecraft that landed on Mars in 1997” (“France Anne Cordova”). Later, France became the chancellor of UCR, and was dedicated to helping the university “...achieve world-class status in key areas of interdisciplinary research” ("UC Riverside names system's first Latina chancellor. (Noteworthy News). (France A. Cordova)").

Cordova had the commitment and determination to keep moving forward in her life to pursue her true interest — science, although she already had an English degree and people were discouraging her. “The times, however, were not ready for her: 'I applied to Stanford and was the first woman from my school to be accepted. I wanted to study science but was very discouraged by everyone because at the time people thought I would just marry after graduating, we didn't know anyone who was a scientist. I loved math but I also enjoyed reading and writing, so I majored in English Literature instead.' A TV special about the stars once again brought her face to face with her true love: science. 'I was mesmerized by what I saw and realized it was the only thing I wanted to do.' Not letting her English degree deter her, France found herself knocking on the door of the MIT astrophysics lab” (Gutierrez). France didn't let anything get in the way of her love of science; she pursued her dream of becoming a scientist. France wanted to chase after her dream just like a hawk soaring above the sky trailing after a mouse. Just because she's a woman, she's not afraid to be free and take risks. As Victoria Vesna, an art studies professor at UCSB said: “She truly has a vision and it is broad and expansive. Her vision is beyond her own ego: It allows her to be free and take risks" (“France Anne Cordova”). France didn't let anything push or tear her apart. Just because she originally chose a literature path in college, that didn't mean she couldn't dive right into another career she was really passionate about. A lot of people change their direction in life after re-encountering their true desires.

France Cordova (purdue.edu)

As France once said:

"'Everyone needs to find their path in life ... there are many influences that can pull you one way or the other, there will always be someone that tells you that you are too young, or too old, or too inexperienced, but you have to follow your instincts. I always tell our students to be open to new ideas, but at the end they have to take the responsibility for the direction that their lives will take. It is important to follow your own inspiration and imagination....Of course at first I opened my eyes, looked at myself in the mirror and went 'Who are you kidding? You are going nowhere...' But I kept on following my instincts, and didn't give up'" (Gutierrez).

Through her moving words and bits of advice, France inspires people everywhere by telling them to go after their dreams, trust what they believe in, and never let anything get in their way that would cause them to back down or give up. “As a high-profile science administrator, Cordova has had to overcome personal and professional criticism. In a 1996 article in The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, she relayed her personal coping tactics and gave advice to Hispanic American youths during a question-and-answer session: 'I'm by nature optimistic. Reaching goals isn't for pessimistic people. At all steps of my career, there was someone saying, 'I wouldn't do that. You're too old, too young, too inexperienced.' There are always naysayers. Ask yourself: What is important to me? What is my vision?'” (“France Anne Cordova”). No matter who told France that she couldn’t reach her goal, she kept telling herself the most important thing: What do I want? What is my goal? This shows how France is an inspiration, because not only does she tell kids to believe in themselves and keep moving on in life, France herself had to overcome personal and professional criticism. That is what a true hero must possess; the courage to take the road less traveled and the path less taken and, in the end, come out strong and on top.

Inspiring kids everywhere, France Cordova has made a difference in many people's lives through her hard work and perseverance. France never took “no” as an answer to anything, and put in her heart and soul into everything she did. Although I’ve never met France in person, I’m sure she’s just as inspiring as all the articles I’ve read about her. I believe that France lives by the line: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” (Robert Frost).

Works Cited

"Córdova, France Anne (1947-)." Hispanic American Almanac. Ed. Sonia G. Benson. 3rd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 17 Jan. 2010

“France Anne Cordova.” Notable Hispanic American Women, Book 2. Gale, 1998. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale. 2007. 25 Jan. 2010. .

"UC Riverside names system's first Latina chancellor. (Noteworthy News). (France A. Cordova)." Black Issues in Higher Education. 20. 4 (April 10, 2003): 10(1). Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 27 Jan. 2010.