Catching Up. Final Fall Semester of ASE Undergrad

I almost let the blog go, but I realized that I had actually posted a few posts on it. I am in my last Fall

My senior seminar signed off!

semester of the Aerospace undergrad. I cannot tell you how unreal that feeling is. It is exciting and very terrifying. At this point in every soon to be graduating senior, the unknown is a huge black hole that is threatening to swallow you whole. There are many options and doors that you want to open, but the bottomline, are you valuable enough to be given the keys to open these doors presented to you.

Many doors lay open, one of great importance to me is Graduate School. I would love to go further with my career. As self centered as this sounds, I am destined for greatness. I truly believe this. This "greatness" that i speak of is nothing like ruling a country or winning some kind of Academy award, but achieving the goals i have set forth for myself. Truly and entirely inspiring kids, especially young women into the field of science and engineering, to be apart of a *manned* space expedition, whether it be on the vessel or the project manager of the project. Grad school is something that i

MSU Space Cowboys at USLI Competition 2013

have been seriously considering for the past few months. I recently found out about a particular program called Space Studies. I believe that degree is what I need to take me further. So I am planning on applying at University of North Dakota as well as the International Space University (in France) for a MS in Space Studies. I think I will excel in the degree considering my experience with my rocket design team Space Cowboys.

Another door, or I suppose a couple of doors are the possibility of an actual job. I have been applying like a mad woman. As Lockheed Martin's Alan Lowrey put it, "You are trying to get a job, you are starting your career." These are words that are very hard to live by because as someone who wants to be in manned spaceflight, that is not an easy job to just luck into as a new graduate. We will see how everything goes.

I take the GRE in December after classes have let out. So I am going to begin studying for that soon. I will probably have the most trouble with the verbal section. I haven't had to think along those lines in years. I also have some exciting news coming up within the world of MK. That will be announced pretty soon. I will most

Me in front of a SaternV at Marshall

likely talk a lot about it on this blog. In the world of Aerospace undergrad. It is Panel Project time! Which means we are building an aluminum panel with stringers. This had to be designed, analyzed, optimized, fabricated and tested for our Structures III class. It is a rite of passage for all seniors in MSU Aerospace. It has been challenging and I know it will be rewarding at the end of it. Just gotta make it to the end. My group is testing our panels this coming Thursday November 14th. We still need to finish routing the bracers as well as plaster the endcaps. Then we will be ready for testing. After testing we are off to writing the final report. The experience I have through rocket team with writing technical reports should be help and make this go smoothly. The end of the semester is coming quickly. Soon I will be in my last semester of my undergraduate degree and moving on to the next chapter of my life. I can't tell you how sad that makes me. I have made amazing friends my journey through my undergrad. It terrifies me what is to come. Especially if it is moving out of the south or where I am our of Kingdom (SCA). But what I know to be true about myself, whatever comes my way I will hit it with force, grace, honor and courtesy.

Here we go.

“... there is no shame in not knowing. The problem arises when irrational thought and attendant behavior fill the vacuum left by ignorance.” - Neil DeGrasse Tyson

"A Sentimental Journey into History." #STS135 #NASATweetup

The 12 hour drive back from Florida has been an incredibly long one. I cannot tell you how many times I began to cry or ache to my core to be back with my Space Tweeps. I have thought a lot about what I would say about this. I was so overwhelmed with emotion about the past couple of days. How do you put into words what I had just experienced...

When It comes down to it, there are not enough adjectives in the english language to truly describe to someone what STS-135 NASATweetup was like. Talking to my mom on the phone after it all, I know I sounded like a bumbling baboon, but what happened at the STS135 NASATweetup truly shook me. It shook me like when the Shuttle broke the sound barrier...

I could go through and talk about all of the different events that happened during
the Tweetup, but I feel as though this blog will be far too long for anyone to have the patience to read. So, instead I thought I would address just awesome little moments that happened. It was unreal to meet NASA Astronauts and administrators. I just wanted to ask, what have I done that has made my kharma so great. The people we met and the amazing sights we got to see! Like We all thought we were going to miss the RSS Retraction, but what a pleasent surprise, we were there and whitnessed the unveiling of such a magnificent machine!

I feel like of all things I talk about on this, I should describe what the actual launch was like for me.

It was getting close the launch time and the Twent (Tweetup Tent) was emptying pretty quickly. We were all so lucky to have just amazing seats to view the launch. One of my Tweetup housemates and I set up along the water by the flagpole next to the Countdown Clock. There was a staticy radio trying to pick up what was going on. I don't think any of us believed that that shuttle was going to launch until the ten second countdown began. 10... 9.... 8... 7... 6... the engines started...5...4.... 3... 2... 1... LIFT OFF!!!
The most brilliant light shown from the launch of Atlantis. We all followed her up, tears streaming down my face. I saw this beautiful machine perform how it was supposed to perform. Without a hitch. The light was so incredibly bright, it was almost like looking into the sun. When Atlantis broke the sound barrier I literally felt it in my inner core. It shook me. It was such an unreal experience. One that you can't fully describe to someone unless they have experienced it. Tears still streaming down my face as Atlantis passed beyond view. I looked over at my friend, we locked our gaze with one another and just shook our heads. we both new there was absolute nothing we could say to fully be appropriate for that moment. This nonverbal communication that was just an understanding of where we were and what we had just seen had no words. And no words were needed. I was sobbing as i walked towards the twent. I was just overcome with such an amazing feeling. The emotions I was feeling I still can't even describe. It took me a good 30 minutes before I had collected myself. My housemate friend and I share this moment with one another. I will always think of that moment our eyes locked and wont help but tear up.

The NASATweetup event has been such a truly amazing experience. I have always been so very passionate abut my major in aerospace engineering. My passion has gotten me through some rough times in my major. When I talk to freshmen, I always tell them to find what they are passionate about, that is what is the most important thing you could do for yourself. Being among people who are so passionate about space and seeing it go further has been so uplifting and so incredibly inspiring. My passion has been tripled of what it was. The speakers at the Tweetup were outstanding, every single one. There words spoke deeply to me. I am still crying even now thinking about the past few days. Chills still come when I think of so many different things. I have met some amazing people who I hope will forever stay apart of my life.

I know that Stephanie and the @NASATweetup team will probably not read this, but in case by small chance they do. I tried to thank Stephanie at the Twent on Friday, but I started crying when I tried to tell her what this meant to me. So, we'll try this again. Thank you so so very much for creating this. I just don't have enough words to describe how truly overwhelming this experience was. I have always been so passionate about my major and space exploration, to hear people talk about the future and to talk to fellow space enthusiast about the future was just such an amazing experience. I cannot say enough to feel like I have thanked the @NASATweetup team enough. We know you all worked so hard on these Tweetups, We can tell because of how life changing and inspiring they are. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of this experience that I will truly always remember and will always look back on as a very important event in my life. Look for my face, I will be working for NASA one day. Taking human beings farther than we have even imagined.


Neil Degrasse Tyson tweeted this:
@Neiltyson: If someone profoundly influences your life's trajectory, don't return the favor. Pass it along to others in need of awakening

I do believe the American people need an awakening.
There are many in doubt that there will be much more after the Shuttle Program. Which they all need to know NASA has a plan. SUPPORT them. They need OUR backing. Stay involved in the amazing work that is done with NASA. Space IS important.



"This isn't the beginning of the end, it is the end of what was our BEGINNING." ~ Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator

Keep your sights turned high. This isn't the end. Far from it. And I can guarantee that I will be one of the ones to be sure of that.