Mae C. Jemison: Reaching for the Stars

Mae Carol Jemison was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. From a very young age, she was passionate about science, art, and dance. She was also deeply inspired by space. As a young girl, she watched the Apollo moon landings on television and dreamed of going to space herself—even though at that time, no woman had ever flown on a NASA mission.

Jemison was an exceptional student. She graduated from Stanford University in 1977 with degrees in chemical engineering and African and Afro-American studies. She then earned a medical degree from Cornell University in 1981. Before becoming an astronaut, she served in the Peace Corps as a medical officer in West Africa, where she managed health care for Peace Corps volunteers and U.S. Embassy staff.

In 1987, Jemison was accepted into NASA's astronaut program—one of only fifteen people selected from more than two thousand applicants. On September 12, 1992, she launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour as a mission specialist. She was the first African American woman ever to travel in space. During the eight-day mission, she conducted experiments in bone cell research and motion sickness. Before the mission, she said she felt that she represented everyone—people of all backgrounds and all genders—because space belongs to all of us.

After leaving NASA in 1993, Jemison founded her own technology company to bring advanced technologies to developing countries. She also founded The Earth We Share, an international science camp for students aged twelve to sixteen. She has since become a passionate advocate for science education, especially for young women and minority students. She has appeared on television, including a guest appearance on the original 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'—fulfilling a childhood dream, since she had grown up watching the show.

Jemison has received numerous honorary degrees and awards, including the National Medical Association's Scroll of Merit and induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame. She is a living example of what becomes possible when curiosity, hard work, and determination are combined with opportunity. Her famous advice: 'Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity.' She reminds every young person that the sky is not the limit—it is only the beginning.

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