Sierra Leone PC Medical Officer Mae Jemison says it was easier to apply to be a shuttle astronaut, "rather than waiting around in a cornfield, waiting for ET to pick me up or something."
Astronaut talks to DU freshmen
By CHARLES A. PETERSON
Advocate Reporter
Photo
Gannett News Service
Dr. Mae Jemison, the first black female astronaut, told freshmen at Denison University on Wednesday night that choices they will make in life will all have an impact, one way or the other.
GRANVILLE -- Dr. Mae Jemison's first big risk in life, she says, was taking her first baby step.
From there, the world's first black female astronaut pressed on, trying as many new experiences as she could, including dancing and studio arts.
"I remember that going to nursery school was pretty traumatic," said Jemison, the keynote speaker Wednesday night for Denison University's opening convocation.
The convocation supports he theme for this year's freshman class, "Jump at the Sun," encouraging students to take risks and to try challenging things, said Laurel Kennedy, dean of first-year students.
Jemison, who obtained her medical degree at Cornell University in 1981 and today serves as director of the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries, inspired more than one of her listeners in Swasey Chapel.
"Talking to her personally made me realize that, yes, I can do it," said DU freshman Sameer Baral of Nepal, who wants a career as an astronaut.
"I liked how she was able to accomplish many achievements in her life, not just being a doctor," said Magena Parker, a junior at Otterbein College.
Jemison, who joined the crew on the shuttle Endeavor, where she conducted experiments in life and material sciences, did not intend to be the first black female astronaut.
"I always assumed I'd go into space," she said. "I thought, by now, we'd be going into space like you were going to work."
She said it was easier to apply to be a shuttle astronaut, "rather than waiting around in a cornfield, waiting for ET to pick me up or something." But if no one, man or woman, had ever gone into space, she would have made it a point to be the first person to go.
Jemison, a former Peace Corps volunteer who also chairs an international science camp for teenagers, hopes that she isn't considered special for very long, although since her foray into space, no black woman has followed her, even though there are three such astronauts in training.
Jemison's hope is that people's images give way to recognition of their skills.
"We can't afford the talent base in this country not to be utilized," she said. "It's the right thing that we have people involved."
At the same time, Jemison decided she didn't need to be an astronaut forever, and urged her youthful audience to be willing to make changes.
"People asked me, 'What can you possibly do to top being a NASA astronaut?' It was cool and it was a wonderful part of my life, but so was working in developing countries." That's when she started her business, BioSentient Corp., which investigates applications of new technologies in health and human performance.
"Each of us has choices in this world. What we chose makes a difference," Jemison said.
Reporter Chuck Peterson can be reached at cpeterson@nncogannett.com or 328-8586.
