Passion In Callings

Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson was- and still is- an important figure in the space and mathematics world. Known as the girl who loved to count, a NASA mathematician, and a human computer, she helped in many U.S accomplishments while working for NASA. Although many African-Americans plus many women were limited to what they could do as a job without being discriminated, the women of the human computer project changed a lot of stereotypes. Katherine Johnson has inputted a positive influence for African-Americans and for her work at NASA and because of her great accomplishments while employed at NASA, the United States and other nations wouldn't have gotten their spaceships to space successfully and safely, or at least in an adequate amount of

ignites your fire and drives you to live out every day is essential, especially when

At JPL, racial setbacks were less prominent as women of different races and ethnicities cooperated. On the other hand, the Langley Research Center was segregated and the women in the West Area Computing Division were isolated from the rest of the research center. This separation is shown immediately when Katherine Johnson is the first colored women working with the Space Task Group. When Katherine enters the room, she is mistaken for a custodian and handed the trash can. Later, when she pours coffee for herself, all the white people in the department stare at her in disbelief. The following day, she finds a separate kettle for herself labeled “Colored”. In addition, when Mary Jackson is working with the engineers on the space capsule, one of the head engineers asks her if she would like to be an engineer if she was a white man. She responds that she wouldn’t have to wish, she’d already be one. Apart from the racial differences between the two pieces of literature, the struggle for women getting new positions during that time was depicted very differently. In Hidden Figures, both Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson underwent multiple barriers to be able to get their desired position; Dorothy as a supervisor and Mary as an engineer. Dorothy was promoted to supervisor by Ms. Mitchell at the very end and Mary had to go to court to see a judge to be able to

Katherine Gobles Johnson was the first African-American to join the Space Task Group at NASA. This was a prestigious group in NASA that was dedicated in winning the Space Race. Octavia Spencer accurately describes the honor and struggles associated with carrying such a title by describing what the women in the book were doing in an interview with People magazine, “They were basically treated as second-class citizens. They knew that they had more to offer, and they basically rolled up their sleeves and 1 2 3 they did the work to be a part of something greater than themselves. Their contributions to the space program, we’re still feeling the impact of it today.”

In September 2016, Margot Lee Shetterly’s book “Hidden Figures” based on the not-so-known story of Katherine and her African Americans computer group, was published. It was also turned into a movie. Margot grew up hearing stories of Katherine and other black women at NASA from her fath, who also worked there. “Johnson has given us a way to shine a light on a lot of women who have not been talked about. None of these women really got the recognition they deserved and . . . now an entire group of women are being recognized for the work that they did.”- Margot Lee

In such a monitored upbringing with parameters set to ensure a certain path towards success, the children of today cannot make a well informed decision about their future without experience gained. Just because one is thrown out of the nest doesn’t mean they can yet fly, for many it’s a matter of trying to fall gracefully. Pursuing a passion related to a real-life issue helps today’s young grasp the actuality of a complex world. Aiding where needed an individual can gain practice in the field they’re interested in without having to commit to that path right away. Bill Gates was set to major in law at Harvard University, but found a need for better software development after writing script for his friends. His contribution to society started as a hobby to make money in his spare

The article “‘Hidden Figures’ and the journey to celebrate NASA’s black female pioneers” published on PBS NEWSHOUR, on December 23, 2016, discuss the book and the movie Hidden Figures. The author starts his article by reminding his readers the stories of black killing in 2016, and how the movie Hidden Figures brings hope and unity to face the feeling of inequality. According to the article, Margot Lee Shetterly brings the idea of Hidden Figure while she is chatting with her father about his old job at Langley Research Center and their conversation goes onto women who works as mathematicians. After that Shetterly spent years researching historical documents and archival material on NACA and NASA, and she interviews Katherine Johnson and the

In Margot Lee Shetterly’s book Hidden figures, the four main characters Dorothy, Mary, and Katherine worked behind the scenes with NASA. They helped with some of NASA’s greatest accomplishments but many didn’t know about them and the work they did to help put a man in space. These women were “hidden figures” because they were brilliant African-American mathematicians who have inspired many generations of women.

Great!!!! I’ll check in with you a year from now and see if I get the same answer.

In today’s society many people get into a field because of the salary however, in other cases people get into a field because they have a passion for something. The passion that drives me to become a nurse practitioner is the love that I developed for science when I was in Elementary school. I knew that science related to the medical field, and that’s something I have always admired, and it was the perfect way to help the community and continue to develop my love for science. However, I didn’t know if becoming a nurse was the right choice for me, but once I started to do research I realized that I was going in the right journey. Although I know that becoming a nurse isn’t easy, but I have the mindset that one day I’ll accomplish my goal.

Through exploration of the world around us, one’s passions are born. Passions make a person who they are. Who I am is shown through my passion for dance, service and exploration.

“To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it become reality” (Anita Roddick). I never used to understand the true meaning of passion, I perceived life as a series of events you go to school, get a degree, get a job, get married, have kids, and then retire. It wasn’t until I made the decision to go to a school purely off of popularity that I came to understand what passion actually means. Graduating high school I made the decision to go to Virginia Tech to study Human Nutrition. During that year my grades began to slack, my motivation fluttered away, and my friendships became nonexistent. Yet the whole time one thing remained consistent and had my pure attention. That was the gym. I would be in the weight room everyday

NASA employees of the West Area Computers building were Hidden Figures. Katherine Johnson was an expert in analytical geometry and was part of NASA’s Space Task Group. Mary Jackson was a NASA engineer, the very first black female engineer. Dorothy Vaughan was a mathematician who became NASA’s first black female supervisor. These three women, though extremely smart and talented, were not treated with the respect they deserved and faced many obstacles that they had to overcome.

Hidden Figures is a non-fiction work by Margot Lee Shetterly who narrates the story about three brilliant African American mathematicians and their contributions in helping man go to space. The lead characters include Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson and Mary Johnson who played an integral role that led to America putting their first man into space. However, they had to overcome countless racial discrimination and break gender stereotypes to prove their worth but it was in vain as they did not receive the recognition they deserved for their efforts. Thereby this story narrates the tales of these important intelligent and brave women who not only made significant contributions to create American history but also made it possible for future generations of women to work in the field of sciences and mathematics.

Katherine Johnson, the woman who sent the first American man to outer space was a pioneer for women, and more importantly women of color. Margot Lee Shetterley’s book Hidden Figures writes about a woman who is calm, passionate, steady, and sure of herself. In Chapter seventeen Outer Space of Hidden Figures by Shetterly described Katherine as a eager, passionate woman on fire for knowledge and a love for the science and math. During chapter eighteen With All Deliberate Speed, she writes of Katherines personal life. She is a nurturing mother to three girls and a strong widow playing the role of both parents. Katherine remarries, a celebration in her personal life, while she professionally celebrates a milestone in her career. Finally Shetterly describes Katherine in chapter twenty-one Out Of The Past, The Future, facing the outcomes of her calculations as the landing of the Friendship 7 Space Capsule plummets towards the United States atmosphere. Throughout it all Shetterley is exact in Katherine's description and portrays her as a calm, passionate and sure of herself. While director Theodore Melfi artistically depicted Katherine Johnson in his film Hidden Figures using actress Taraji P. Henson. Henson provides a real life example of who Katherine Johnson really was during those critical years. Katherine stood with other women of her time to break the barriers for generations of women, and women of color that will follow for years to come.