Mae Carol Jemison

Mae Jemison (http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov /docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2 /jemison.html)

Dr Mae Jemison is my hero, because she lets me know that I can achieve whatever I want. Dr. Mae Jemison made a difference in many people‘s lives by teaching people to do whatever you want. She encourages people to take risks and to accomplish their goals.

When Mae told her kindergarten teacher that she wanted to be a scientist, her teacher said “Don’t you mean a nurse?” In 1973, Mae graduated from Chicago’s Morgan Park High School. She was an honor roll student and excelled in science and math. Mae was only 16 when she entered Stanford University.

Mae traveled to several different places in Africa such as Cuba, Kenya & Thailand. She helped cure the sick people in those places, and Mae decided to join the Peace Corps. After Mae‘s duty in the Peace Corps was over, she returned to Los Angles where she resumed her medical practice.

Mae’s next step in life was her biggest step yet. She applied to NASA. Mae moved to Houston, Texas where she began her training for NASA’s Johnson Space Shuttle Equipment and Operation. At the end of her training year, she successfully became an astronaut on September 12, 1992. The long wait was over! The space shuttle Endeavour was sitting there on the launch pad like a fire cracker waiting to ignite. Endeavour’s mission was devoted to scientific research. On September 20, 1992, at 8:53 A.M, Endeavour landed at Kennedy Space Center.

After her space mission, Mae went back home to Chicago and there were six days of speeches and celebrations. Then she went to Hollywood to accept the American Black Achievement Award. Mae encourages me to follow my dreams. Mae Jemison believes the motto “Don’t be limited by others limited imaginations” and so do I.