8 months ago, I was coding from a hospital bed, unsure if I'd ever walk again.
Today, I'm walking out of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center after completing my internship.
Christmas 2024 changed everything. A life-threatening accident left me hospitalized and wheelchair-bound for 5 months. My doctor told me to drop out of college to focus on recovery.
I refused.
Instead, I turned my hospital room into a classroom. Studied algorithms between physical therapy sessions. Debugged code with an IV in my arm. Some called it stubborn. I called it necessary.
I never imagined that same broken body would carry me through NASA's doors as a Software Engineering Intern in EV42's GNC department, developing AI for spacecraft navigation. Or that these healing hands would write C++ code for LiDAR ground extraction systems that could one day help rovers navigate alien terrain.
But here we are. 🚀
To my NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration family:
My mentor Kyle Miller and POC Juan Orphee, you didn't just guide an intern, you helped rebuild a dreamer. Thank you for seeing potential where others might have seen limitations.
To my roommate crew who became family - Richard Ren, Eliza Khan, Brayden Berg, Amanda Saliba and Angie Beaugh - you made Huntsville home.
To everyone who made this journey possible and unforgettable: Michaela Tarpley, Yuri Steffan Labuca, Jacob Bui, Justin De Leon, Randall Tomlinson, Carlos Morales, Emma Hansen, Maddy Stratton, Jaycie Eaton, Zo C., Roman Bassett, Alexander Kuhlman, Nathan Gall, Travis Nguyen, Leonardo C., Powtawche Valerino, Andy Heaton, Kyle Young, Alexandrya Aven, Aanchal Save, Ellie Breidenbach, Jared Espiritu, Donovan Ho, Alejandro Lopez-Vergara, Liam Nelson, Reid Faistl, Huy Dao, Bianca M. Ortega and Jorge Munoz-Burgos - each of you added color to this chapter.
Here's what I learned: Your lowest point isn't your endpoint. It's your launch pad.
Someone once shared their NASA journey with me when I needed hope most. Now it's my turn. Whether you're curious about NASA, navigating your own comeback story, or wondering how to break into aerospace, my DMs are open. Let's connect.
P.S. - The job search from a hospital bed taught me the value of the right tools. As a Jobright.ai Campus Ambassador, I've seen how AI can transform the overwhelming into the manageable. If you're starting your own journey, this helped me stay on top of opportunities even when I couldn't get out of bed: https://lnkd.in/g4xyNjCs
Because sometimes the best rockets are built by those who've already crashed and learned to fly again.
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