NASA is continuously hiring but for a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) college senior to already get a job while still studying and working at the same time is a big feat for most. Studying at the MIT, Tiera Guinn is already looking at a bright future. As a young girl, she remembers seeing a plane flying in the air and was curious to know how to build one. Now, she is working as a rocket structural design and analysis for NASA since June, last year.
This MIT undergrad works on rocket parts that will be used on space missions like Mars. One of the critical things she is working on is to make sure the components will not break while in flight, as reported by USA Today. At only 11 years old, she started getting interested in STEM.
Her earlier years lead her to take aerospace engineering which then connected her to NASA. Currently, she is still studying at MIT and works remotely, 20 hours a week, for NASA. Her ability to maintain her current load while working on structural analysis and design amazes Orren Williams,her high school engineering teacher.
To make a related point, her favorite movie is "Hidden Figures." It is a movie based on real life events. The story revolves around three African American women who struggled with minority issues back then while working for NASA as mathematicians and science experts. Now, Guinn is going to graduate from MIT with a 5.0 GPA and get a full time job at NASA this August, as reported by The Huffington Post.
When asked if she has any advice for young women who want to enroll in schools like MIT, pursue a job at NASA or a career in STEM, Guinn says that young women should expect challenges in their journey. Just like the movie "Hidden Figures," she says no matter what happens, it is important to keep pushing.
Be inspired like Tiera. Watch the NASA clip below where Janelle Monáe introduces the world to Mary Jackson:
