so as a former competitive pitcher I am all too familiar with the brushback
all too familiar with the brushback
all too familiar with the brushback pitch so here’s a scenario a strong
pitch so here’s a scenario a strong
pitch so here’s a scenario a strong confident batter steps up to the plate
confident batter steps up to the plate
confident batter steps up to the plate my job as a pitcher is to strike her out
my job as a pitcher is to strike her out
my job as a pitcher is to strike her out and I know she’s an excellent hitter I
and I know she’s an excellent hitter I
and I know she’s an excellent hitter I have a whole arsenal of pitches a
have a whole arsenal of pitches a
have a whole arsenal of pitches a fastball a changeup a curveball and a
fastball a changeup a curveball and a
fastball a changeup a curveball and a drop I decide to go with a fastball for
drop I decide to go with a fastball for
drop I decide to go with a fastball for my first pitch high and inside one that
my first pitch high and inside one that
my first pitch high and inside one that forces her to jump back from the plate
forces her to jump back from the plate
forces her to jump back from the plate my goal is to intimidate her and to
my goal is to intimidate her and to
my goal is to intimidate her and to strip away some of her confidence with
strip away some of her confidence with
strip away some of her confidence with her confidence shaken and her mind out
her confidence shaken and her mind out
her confidence shaken and her mind out of the game I can strike her out brush
of the game I can strike her out brush
of the game I can strike her out brush back pitches can come in many forms in
back pitches can come in many forms in
back pitches can come in many forms in stem challenging subject matter a tough
stem challenging subject matter a tough
stem challenging subject matter a tough exam research failures or an internship
exam research failures or an internship
exam research failures or an internship internship rejection letter being on the
internship rejection letter being on the
internship rejection letter being on the receiving end of these events can shake
receiving end of these events can shake
receiving end of these events can shake anyone’s confidence as a female and a
anyone’s confidence as a female and a
anyone’s confidence as a female and a typically male-dominated stem field I’ve
typically male-dominated stem field I’ve
typically male-dominated stem field I’ve encountered an additional type of
encountered an additional type of
encountered an additional type of brushback pitch which is gender bias so
brushback pitch which is gender bias so
brushback pitch which is gender bias so I want to share some of my story with
I want to share some of my story with
I want to share some of my story with you today it’s one that contains hits
you today it’s one that contains hits
you today it’s one that contains hits strikeouts and brushback pitches I hope
strikeouts and brushback pitches I hope
strikeouts and brushback pitches I hope it encourages anyone especially young
it encourages anyone especially young
it encourages anyone especially young women considering STEM careers just step
women considering STEM careers just step
women considering STEM careers just step up to the plate keep your eye on the
up to the plate keep your eye on the
up to the plate keep your eye on the ball and always keep her head in the
ball and always keep her head in the
ball and always keep her head in the game so I grew up in a small steel town
game so I grew up in a small steel town
game so I grew up in a small steel town in West Virginia I was fascinated with
in West Virginia I was fascinated with
in West Virginia I was fascinated with the night sky from a young age and I
the night sky from a young age and I
the night sky from a young age and I used to love watching space shuttle
used to love watching space shuttle
used to love watching space shuttle launches on TV with my dad I was
launches on TV with my dad I was
launches on TV with my dad I was intrigued by NASA’s Space Shuttle
intrigued by NASA’s Space Shuttle
intrigued by NASA’s Space Shuttle program so I decided I was going to
program so I decided I was going to
program so I decided I was going to become an aerospace engineer so I took
become an aerospace engineer so I took
become an aerospace engineer so I took math and science courses in high school
math and science courses in high school
math and science courses in high school and I was fortunate to have some pretty
and I was fortunate to have some pretty
and I was fortunate to have some pretty spectacular teachers as I was getting
spectacular teachers as I was getting
spectacular teachers as I was getting ready to head off to college to study
ready to head off to college to study
ready to head off to college to study engineering
engineering
engineering my favorite teacher shared some personal
my favorite teacher shared some personal
my favorite teacher shared some personal wisdom with me he said remember you will
wisdom with me he said remember you will
wisdom with me he said remember you will have to work twice as hard to be
have to work twice as hard to be
have to work twice as hard to be considered half as good but you’re as
considered half as good but you’re as
considered half as good but you’re as good as any I’ve seen and I know you can
good as any I’ve seen and I know you can
good as any I’ve seen and I know you can do it although I didn’t understand what
do it although I didn’t understand what
do it although I didn’t understand what he meant at the time when he said it I
he meant at the time when he said it I
he meant at the time when he said it I later learned that he was referring to
later learned that he was referring to
later learned that he was referring to the different challenges I would face as
the different challenges I would face as
the different challenges I would face as a woman in a typically male-dominated
a woman in a typically male-dominated
a woman in a typically male-dominated engineering field so I went off to
engineering field so I went off to
engineering field so I went off to college and I purse
college and I purse
college and I purse two degrees in both mechanical and
two degrees in both mechanical and
two degrees in both mechanical and aerospace engineering I was excited to
aerospace engineering I was excited to
aerospace engineering I was excited to start this new chapter of my life and
start this new chapter of my life and
start this new chapter of my life and embark on this journey of learning how
embark on this journey of learning how
embark on this journey of learning how to make things fly my freshman year was
to make things fly my freshman year was
to make things fly my freshman year was a fun experience I learned a lot about
a fun experience I learned a lot about
a fun experience I learned a lot about engineering and I made some new friends
engineering and I made some new friends
engineering and I made some new friends there were some bumps along the way I
there were some bumps along the way I
there were some bumps along the way I found out very quickly advanced
found out very quickly advanced
found out very quickly advanced chemistry not my forte and I had smoke
chemistry not my forte and I had smoke
chemistry not my forte and I had smoke billowing out of my circuits lab more
billowing out of my circuits lab more
billowing out of my circuits lab more times than I’m going to admit today as a
times than I’m going to admit today as a
times than I’m going to admit today as a sophomore in college I had this
sophomore in college I had this
sophomore in college I had this opportunity to be an undergraduate
opportunity to be an undergraduate
opportunity to be an undergraduate research assistant on a project for a
research assistant on a project for a
research assistant on a project for a professor I was so excited to have this
professor I was so excited to have this
professor I was so excited to have this additional opportunity and I worked hard
additional opportunity and I worked hard
additional opportunity and I worked hard on this project all year at the end of
on this project all year at the end of
on this project all year at the end of the year I had this chance to present
the year I had this chance to present
the year I had this chance to present this research at the State Capitol and
this research at the State Capitol and
this research at the State Capitol and before I left my professor and mentor at
before I left my professor and mentor at
before I left my professor and mentor at the time he called me into his office
the time he called me into his office
the time he called me into his office where he said you should wear a skirt to
where he said you should wear a skirt to
where he said you should wear a skirt to the presentation it’ll attract the men
the presentation it’ll attract the men
the presentation it’ll attract the men and they’ll come over and listen to you
and they’ll come over and listen to you
and they’ll come over and listen to you ooh there it was it was a brushback
ooh there it was it was a brushback
ooh there it was it was a brushback pitch that comment made the 19 year old
pitch that comment made the 19 year old
pitch that comment made the 19 year old me uncomfortable I started to doubt
me uncomfortable I started to doubt
me uncomfortable I started to doubt myself why was I there did he just bring
myself why was I there did he just bring
myself why was I there did he just bring me onto his team so I could attract
me onto his team so I could attract
me onto his team so I could attract people to his research at the time the
people to his research at the time the
people to his research at the time the comment shook me up like a good
comment shook me up like a good
comment shook me up like a good brushback pitch well but looking back I
brushback pitch well but looking back I
brushback pitch well but looking back I only feel frustration it’s highly
only feel frustration it’s highly
only feel frustration it’s highly offensive and completely inappropriate
offensive and completely inappropriate
offensive and completely inappropriate to suggest to any woman especially a 19
to suggest to any woman especially a 19
to suggest to any woman especially a 19 year old who’s trying to become a
year old who’s trying to become a
year old who’s trying to become a serious professional that she should use
serious professional that she should use
serious professional that she should use looks to get people to take an interest
looks to get people to take an interest
looks to get people to take an interest in her work it’s also offensive to men
in her work it’s also offensive to men
in her work it’s also offensive to men to even subtly suggest that they
to even subtly suggest that they
to even subtly suggest that they wouldn’t be interested in the technical
wouldn’t be interested in the technical
wouldn’t be interested in the technical details so how did I handle this well I
details so how did I handle this well I
details so how did I handle this well I defiantly and proudly wore a pantsuit to
defiantly and proudly wore a pantsuit to
defiantly and proudly wore a pantsuit to the presentation and there are plenty of
the presentation and there are plenty of
the presentation and there are plenty of people interested in hearing about the
people interested in hearing about the
people interested in hearing about the work that brushback pitch stripped away
work that brushback pitch stripped away
work that brushback pitch stripped away some of my confidence in the end I
some of my confidence in the end I
some of my confidence in the end I decided that I wasn’t going to give up
decided that I wasn’t going to give up
decided that I wasn’t going to give up on research so I decided to try again
on research so I decided to try again
on research so I decided to try again with a different professor I wasn’t
with a different professor I wasn’t
with a different professor I wasn’t going to let that brushback pitch take
going to let that brushback pitch take
going to let that brushback pitch take my head out of the game so for my next
my head out of the game so for my next
my head out of the game so for my next project I worked with a team to design
project I worked with a team to design
project I worked with a team to design build and fly an experiment on
build and fly an experiment on
build and fly an experiment on NASA’s weightless wonder aircraft if
NASA’s weightless wonder aircraft if
NASA’s weightless wonder aircraft if you’re unfamiliar with this aircraft
you’re unfamiliar with this aircraft
you’re unfamiliar with this aircraft it’s one that flies in a parabolic
it’s one that flies in a parabolic
it’s one that flies in a parabolic motion to simulate about 25 seconds of
motion to simulate about 25 seconds of
motion to simulate about 25 seconds of microgravity as it flies over the top of
microgravity as it flies over the top of
microgravity as it flies over the top of each parabola they use this technique to
each parabola they use this technique to
each parabola they use this technique to train astronauts and prepare them for
train astronauts and prepare them for
train astronauts and prepare them for the zero-gravity environment of space
the zero-gravity environment of space
the zero-gravity environment of space with this project I learned how to write
with this project I learned how to write
with this project I learned how to write a proposal in support of securing
a proposal in support of securing
a proposal in support of securing research funding I learned how to design
research funding I learned how to design
research funding I learned how to design and build an experiment from the ground
and build an experiment from the ground
and build an experiment from the ground up conduct data analysis and capture it
up conduct data analysis and capture it
up conduct data analysis and capture it in the final report these are all key
in the final report these are all key
in the final report these are all key aspects of being a good engineer and I
aspects of being a good engineer and I
aspects of being a good engineer and I was getting this real world experience
was getting this real world experience
was getting this real world experience through this opportunity the best part
through this opportunity the best part
through this opportunity the best part of all was I got to experience
of all was I got to experience
of all was I got to experience weightlessness like an astronaut and it
weightlessness like an astronaut and it
weightlessness like an astronaut and it was hands-down one of the best moments
was hands-down one of the best moments
was hands-down one of the best moments of my life I’m so glad that I didn’t let
of my life I’m so glad that I didn’t let
of my life I’m so glad that I didn’t let that first project experience deter me
that first project experience deter me
that first project experience deter me from doing what I’d set out to do which
from doing what I’d set out to do which
from doing what I’d set out to do which was to conduct good research I learned
was to conduct good research I learned
was to conduct good research I learned how to design and build an experiment
how to design and build an experiment
how to design and build an experiment from the ground up and it wouldn’t have
from the ground up and it wouldn’t have
from the ground up and it wouldn’t have existed in its present form without my
existed in its present form without my
existed in its present form without my unique contributions to the team and
unique contributions to the team and
unique contributions to the team and that’s a really cool feeling we invented
that’s a really cool feeling we invented
that’s a really cool feeling we invented something and for me it wasn’t just a
something and for me it wasn’t just a
something and for me it wasn’t just a hit it was a home run
hit it was a home run
hit it was a home run I was so energized by this experience
I was so energized by this experience
I was so energized by this experience that I started to apply to internships I
that I started to apply to internships I
that I started to apply to internships I submitted several applications to
submitted several applications to
submitted several applications to companies and the first company that I
companies and the first company that I
companies and the first company that I interviewed with did not select me
interviewed with did not select me
interviewed with did not select me another brushback pitch or perhaps a
another brushback pitch or perhaps a
another brushback pitch or perhaps a strikeout I walked into that interview
strikeout I walked into that interview
strikeout I walked into that interview it was eight hours long it was intensive
it was eight hours long it was intensive
it was eight hours long it was intensive and I simply didn’t have a good outing I
and I simply didn’t have a good outing I
and I simply didn’t have a good outing I let my nerves get the best of me and I
let my nerves get the best of me and I
let my nerves get the best of me and I failed to draw out some of the key
failed to draw out some of the key
failed to draw out some of the key aspects of my resume that I had hoped to
aspects of my resume that I had hoped to
aspects of my resume that I had hoped to highlight I was really disappointed and
highlight I was really disappointed and
highlight I was really disappointed and hard on myself I kept replaying it over
hard on myself I kept replaying it over
hard on myself I kept replaying it over and over in my head thinking about what
and over in my head thinking about what
and over in my head thinking about what could I have done differently after a
could I have done differently after a
could I have done differently after a few weeks I decided if you’re going to
few weeks I decided if you’re going to
few weeks I decided if you’re going to keep replaying it at least do something
keep replaying it at least do something
keep replaying it at least do something useful with it so I reflected I paid
useful with it so I reflected I paid
useful with it so I reflected I paid attention to the types of questions I
attention to the types of questions I
attention to the types of questions I faced I took notes I learned from my
faced I took notes I learned from my
faced I took notes I learned from my failure I decided that my next interview
failure I decided that my next interview
failure I decided that my next interview would go differently and it just so
would go differently and it just so
would go differently and it just so happened that my next interview was for
happened that my next interview was for
happened that my next interview was for my dream internship with NASA
my dream internship with NASA
my dream internship with NASA and I walked into that one feeling
and I walked into that one feeling
and I walked into that one feeling prepared nervous but prepared I ended up
prepared nervous but prepared I ended up
prepared nervous but prepared I ended up getting that internship and I spent the
getting that internship and I spent the
getting that internship and I spent the next two summers working on a project to
next two summers working on a project to
next two summers working on a project to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa it was
explore Jupiter’s moon Europa it was
explore Jupiter’s moon Europa it was during this internship that I discovered
during this internship that I discovered
during this internship that I discovered my passion for control theory and
my passion for control theory and
my passion for control theory and autonomous vehicles and this was an
autonomous vehicles and this was an
autonomous vehicles and this was an inflection point in my career after this
inflection point in my career after this
inflection point in my career after this internship I started rolling in courses
internship I started rolling in courses
internship I started rolling in courses on auto-pilot sand flight controls it
on auto-pilot sand flight controls it
on auto-pilot sand flight controls it even led me to an internship with Boeing
even led me to an internship with Boeing
even led me to an internship with Boeing where I worked in the flight controls
where I worked in the flight controls
where I worked in the flight controls group for the 787 dreamliner if I would
group for the 787 dreamliner if I would
group for the 787 dreamliner if I would have let that brushback pitch of not
have let that brushback pitch of not
have let that brushback pitch of not getting that first internship paralyzed
getting that first internship paralyzed
getting that first internship paralyzed me into inaction and had been too afraid
me into inaction and had been too afraid
me into inaction and had been too afraid to interview for another one I might not
to interview for another one I might not
to interview for another one I might not have worked at NASA or Boeing I might
have worked at NASA or Boeing I might
have worked at NASA or Boeing I might not have discovered my passion for
not have discovered my passion for
not have discovered my passion for flight controls and my career would look
flight controls and my career would look
flight controls and my career would look completely different than it does today
completely different than it does today
completely different than it does today every perceived failure has an
every perceived failure has an
every perceived failure has an opportunity for lessons learned and as
opportunity for lessons learned and as
opportunity for lessons learned and as long as you learn something it’s not a
long as you learn something it’s not a
long as you learn something it’s not a failure keep your eye on the ball in
failure keep your eye on the ball in
failure keep your eye on the ball in your head in the game and don’t be
your head in the game and don’t be
your head in the game and don’t be afraid to step back up to the plate
afraid to step back up to the plate
afraid to step back up to the plate after a strikeout I was so inspired by
after a strikeout I was so inspired by
after a strikeout I was so inspired by all these experiences I was having that
all these experiences I was having that
all these experiences I was having that I decided to pursue my PhD in aerospace
I decided to pursue my PhD in aerospace
I decided to pursue my PhD in aerospace engineering I worked in a lab where we
engineering I worked in a lab where we
engineering I worked in a lab where we conducted flight testing with small jet
conducted flight testing with small jet
conducted flight testing with small jet aircraft and I felt more connected to
aircraft and I felt more connected to
aircraft and I felt more connected to aerospace engineering than I ever had
aerospace engineering than I ever had
aerospace engineering than I ever had before I felt like I had felt or found
before I felt like I had felt or found
before I felt like I had felt or found my true passion which leads me to the
my true passion which leads me to the
my true passion which leads me to the final brushback pitch story that I want
final brushback pitch story that I want
final brushback pitch story that I want to share with you today all of this hard
to share with you today all of this hard
to share with you today all of this hard work through college helped me to
work through college helped me to
work through college helped me to receive several accolades I’m still
receive several accolades I’m still
receive several accolades I’m still really proud of I remember receiving one
really proud of I remember receiving one
really proud of I remember receiving one award and a male colleague said to me it
award and a male colleague said to me it
award and a male colleague said to me it must have been because you’re a girl I
must have been because you’re a girl I
must have been because you’re a girl I remember receiving a second recognition
remember receiving a second recognition
remember receiving a second recognition and a colleague said a similar remark
and a colleague said a similar remark
and a colleague said a similar remark and he added that they must have had a
and he added that they must have had a
and he added that they must have had a quota to meet honestly these were the
quota to meet honestly these were the
quota to meet honestly these were the hardest brushback pitches of them all
hardest brushback pitches of them all
hardest brushback pitches of them all what they were implying was a more
what they were implying was a more
what they were implying was a more deserving male did not receive this
deserving male did not receive this
deserving male did not receive this award because they had to lower the bar
award because they had to lower the bar
award because they had to lower the bar and reserve a spot for the female of
and reserve a spot for the female of
and reserve a spot for the female of course that couldn’t have had anything
course that couldn’t have had anything
course that couldn’t have had anything to do with the late hours I was
to do with the late hours I was
to do with the late hours I was consistently putting
consistently putting
consistently putting at the library of course I couldn’t have
at the library of course I couldn’t have
at the library of course I couldn’t have earned these honors they simply must
earned these honors they simply must
earned these honors they simply must have been handed to me because I was a
have been handed to me because I was a
have been handed to me because I was a female in a male-dominated field this
female in a male-dominated field this
female in a male-dominated field this sent the wrong message to me as a woman
sent the wrong message to me as a woman
sent the wrong message to me as a woman in engineering it’s signaled to me that
in engineering it’s signaled to me that
in engineering it’s signaled to me that no matter how hard I work to prove
no matter how hard I work to prove
no matter how hard I work to prove myself there would be some who would
myself there would be some who would
myself there would be some who would assume my successes were given to me as
assume my successes were given to me as
assume my successes were given to me as opposed to my earning them I could work
opposed to my earning them I could work
opposed to my earning them I could work twice as hard but some would still
twice as hard but some would still
twice as hard but some would still consider me to be half as good the words
consider me to be half as good the words
consider me to be half as good the words of my very wise high school teacher
of my very wise high school teacher
of my very wise high school teacher finally we’re making sense to me so I
finally we’re making sense to me so I
finally we’re making sense to me so I shared some of these experiences because
shared some of these experiences because
shared some of these experiences because these individual occurrences aren’t
these individual occurrences aren’t
these individual occurrences aren’t typically enough to push someone away
typically enough to push someone away
typically enough to push someone away from their passion these individual
from their passion these individual
from their passion these individual brushback pitches aren’t enough to take
brushback pitches aren’t enough to take
brushback pitches aren’t enough to take someone completely out of the game it’s
someone completely out of the game it’s
someone completely out of the game it’s the sum of the parts that can create an
the sum of the parts that can create an
the sum of the parts that can create an environment where a woman may start to
environment where a woman may start to
environment where a woman may start to question if she belongs in stem
question if she belongs in stem
question if she belongs in stem especially after the gender related
especially after the gender related
especially after the gender related brushback pitches when those comments
brushback pitches when those comments
brushback pitches when those comments were said to me I was already being
were said to me I was already being
were said to me I was already being really hard on myself I wanted people to
really hard on myself I wanted people to
really hard on myself I wanted people to see me as a competent and dependable
see me as a competent and dependable
see me as a competent and dependable engineer and comments like that seemed
engineer and comments like that seemed
engineer and comments like that seemed to call into question if they did what
to call into question if they did what
to call into question if they did what if they find out I’m not good at
if they find out I’m not good at
if they find out I’m not good at engineering so to combat that fear I
engineering so to combat that fear I
engineering so to combat that fear I became a perfectionist
became a perfectionist
became a perfectionist I would beat myself up if I didn’t get a
I would beat myself up if I didn’t get a
I would beat myself up if I didn’t get a perfect exams for and I would be hard on
perfect exams for and I would be hard on
perfect exams for and I would be hard on myself if a flight test didn’t turn out
myself if a flight test didn’t turn out
myself if a flight test didn’t turn out exactly as I planned and trust me they
exactly as I planned and trust me they
exactly as I planned and trust me they never do I later learned that I suffer
never do I later learned that I suffer
never do I later learned that I suffer from what is known as impostor syndrome
from what is known as impostor syndrome
from what is known as impostor syndrome and according to the psychologists who
and according to the psychologists who
and according to the psychologists who first described it in the 70s occurs
first described it in the 70s occurs
first described it in the 70s occurs among high achievers who are unable to
among high achievers who are unable to
among high achievers who are unable to internalize and accept their success and
internalize and accept their success and
internalize and accept their success and they live with this fear that others
they live with this fear that others
they live with this fear that others will eventually unmask them as a fraud
will eventually unmask them as a fraud
will eventually unmask them as a fraud as it turns out perfectionism and the
as it turns out perfectionism and the
as it turns out perfectionism and the imposter syndrome go hand in hand I
imposter syndrome go hand in hand I
imposter syndrome go hand in hand I didn’t want anyone to know what was
didn’t want anyone to know what was
didn’t want anyone to know what was going on underneath this finely crafted
going on underneath this finely crafted
going on underneath this finely crafted image that I had worked so hard to
image that I had worked so hard to
image that I had worked so hard to project the fact that I was dealing with
project the fact that I was dealing with
project the fact that I was dealing with these impostor like feelings only
these impostor like feelings only
these impostor like feelings only complicated matters when I was doubt a
complicated matters when I was doubt a
complicated matters when I was doubt a brushback pitch I’ll admit that when I
brushback pitch I’ll admit that when I
brushback pitch I’ll admit that when I was graduating I questioned if I would
was graduating I questioned if I would
was graduating I questioned if I would be able to be impactful in the aerospace
be able to be impactful in the aerospace
be able to be impactful in the aerospace industry
industry
industry I consider differ
I consider differ
I consider differ routes like pursuing an MBA I let the
routes like pursuing an MBA I let the
routes like pursuing an MBA I let the some of those brushback pitches take my
some of those brushback pitches take my
some of those brushback pitches take my head out of the game and with the
head out of the game and with the
head out of the game and with the imposter syndrome I felt like a bass
imposter syndrome I felt like a bass
imposter syndrome I felt like a bass person in the batter’s box who didn’t
person in the batter’s box who didn’t
person in the batter’s box who didn’t want anyone to find out she couldn’t hit
want anyone to find out she couldn’t hit
want anyone to find out she couldn’t hit in the end I almost made the biggest
in the end I almost made the biggest
in the end I almost made the biggest mistake of my life
mistake of my life
mistake of my life it took months of self-reflection but I
it took months of self-reflection but I
it took months of self-reflection but I realized that I was getting ready to
realized that I was getting ready to
realized that I was getting ready to defend my PhD dissertation so I knew my
defend my PhD dissertation so I knew my
defend my PhD dissertation so I knew my stuff all of the training and the hard
stuff all of the training and the hard
stuff all of the training and the hard work had led up to this moment it was
work had led up to this moment it was
work had led up to this moment it was essentially my world series and what
essentially my world series and what
essentially my world series and what would the little girl who fell in love
would the little girl who fell in love
would the little girl who fell in love with aerospace engineering so long ago
with aerospace engineering so long ago
with aerospace engineering so long ago think if I gave up on our dream I
think if I gave up on our dream I
think if I gave up on our dream I couldn’t let these brushback pitches
couldn’t let these brushback pitches
couldn’t let these brushback pitches write my story I belong in the game so
write my story I belong in the game so
write my story I belong in the game so I’m proud to say that I now work at the
I’m proud to say that I now work at the
I’m proud to say that I now work at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory the nation’s largest
Laboratory the nation’s largest
Laboratory the nation’s largest University affiliated research center
University affiliated research center
University affiliated research center focused on cutting-edge research and
focused on cutting-edge research and
focused on cutting-edge research and development to solve some of the world’s
development to solve some of the world’s
development to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges I serve as a senior
toughest challenges I serve as a senior
toughest challenges I serve as a senior engineer and supervisor who has the
engineer and supervisor who has the
engineer and supervisor who has the chance to mentor staff I feel blessed to
chance to mentor staff I feel blessed to
chance to mentor staff I feel blessed to be a part of something greater than
be a part of something greater than
be a part of something greater than myself supporting our nation’s air and
myself supporting our nation’s air and
myself supporting our nation’s air and missile defense programs I serve as a
missile defense programs I serve as a
missile defense programs I serve as a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins
visiting professor at Johns Hopkins
visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University where I get to teach and
University where I get to teach and
University where I get to teach and hopefully mentor the next generation of
hopefully mentor the next generation of
hopefully mentor the next generation of brilliant engineering minds I wake up
brilliant engineering minds I wake up
brilliant engineering minds I wake up every day energized to go to work and I
every day energized to go to work and I
every day energized to go to work and I am so happy that I got my head back in
am so happy that I got my head back in
am so happy that I got my head back in the game sometimes I look back and think
the game sometimes I look back and think
the game sometimes I look back and think about how I got here and ultimately my
about how I got here and ultimately my
about how I got here and ultimately my commitment to my dreams was stronger
commitment to my dreams was stronger
commitment to my dreams was stronger than any brushback pitch that could be
than any brushback pitch that could be
than any brushback pitch that could be thrown my way
thrown my way
thrown my way I took chances and I stepped outside of
I took chances and I stepped outside of
I took chances and I stepped outside of my comfort zone I learned from my
my comfort zone I learned from my
my comfort zone I learned from my failures
failures
failures there were times I doubted myself and
there were times I doubted myself and
there were times I doubted myself and questioned if I belong I still suffer
questioned if I belong I still suffer
questioned if I belong I still suffer from the imposter syndrome I get nervous
from the imposter syndrome I get nervous
from the imposter syndrome I get nervous when I teach new material to my students
when I teach new material to my students
when I teach new material to my students all of these fears and these setbacks
all of these fears and these setbacks
all of these fears and these setbacks are worth it and they’re part of the
are worth it and they’re part of the
are worth it and they’re part of the adventure when we see successful people
adventure when we see successful people
adventure when we see successful people we often see the finely crafted story
we often see the finely crafted story
we often see the finely crafted story the resume highlights we don’t often see
the resume highlights we don’t often see
the resume highlights we don’t often see the brushback pitches and the strikeouts
the brushback pitches and the strikeouts
the brushback pitches and the strikeouts which are the character building events
which are the character building events
which are the character building events so to all of you here today I
so to all of you here today I
so to all of you here today I you walk away with a message that it’s
you walk away with a message that it’s
you walk away with a message that it’s okay to fail in fact I encourage you to
okay to fail in fact I encourage you to
okay to fail in fact I encourage you to get comfortable with it failure is the
get comfortable with it failure is the
get comfortable with it failure is the hallmark of every highly successful
hallmark of every highly successful
hallmark of every highly successful person so always try to take a lesson
person so always try to take a lesson
person so always try to take a lesson away from it and don’t be too hard on
away from it and don’t be too hard on
away from it and don’t be too hard on yourself throughout that process into
yourself throughout that process into
yourself throughout that process into the young women who are considering STEM
the young women who are considering STEM
the young women who are considering STEM careers all I can say is this implicit
careers all I can say is this implicit
careers all I can say is this implicit biases against women in STEM continue to
biases against women in STEM continue to
biases against women in STEM continue to persist however the positive experiences
persist however the positive experiences
persist however the positive experiences far outweigh those brushback pitches
far outweigh those brushback pitches
far outweigh those brushback pitches there may be times when you doubt
there may be times when you doubt
there may be times when you doubt yourself and question if you belong you
yourself and question if you belong you
yourself and question if you belong you do belong and we need your unique
do belong and we need your unique
do belong and we need your unique perspectives and contributions in stem
perspectives and contributions in stem
perspectives and contributions in stem there may be times as I said you may
there may be times as I said you may
there may be times as I said you may question yourself
question yourself
question yourself I remain firm and committed to your
I remain firm and committed to your
I remain firm and committed to your passions
passions
passions don’t let anyone strip that away from
don’t let anyone strip that away from
don’t let anyone strip that away from you I have met some of my very best
you I have met some of my very best
you I have met some of my very best friends through engineering it has
friends through engineering it has
friends through engineering it has allowed me to travel the world I have
allowed me to travel the world I have
allowed me to travel the world I have flown in microgravity like an astronaut
flown in microgravity like an astronaut
flown in microgravity like an astronaut learned how to pilot a helicopter and I
learned how to pilot a helicopter and I
learned how to pilot a helicopter and I get to have a significant impact in my
get to have a significant impact in my
get to have a significant impact in my current role it has been more fun and
current role it has been more fun and
current role it has been more fun and rewarding than anything I could have
rewarding than anything I could have
rewarding than anything I could have ever imagined when I started out on this
ever imagined when I started out on this
ever imagined when I started out on this journey so don’t let the brush back
journey so don’t let the brush back
journey so don’t let the brush back piccies stop you keep your eye on the
piccies stop you keep your eye on the
piccies stop you keep your eye on the ball in your head in the game because it
ball in your head in the game because it
ball in your head in the game because it may be the greatest game
may be the greatest game
may be the greatest game you ever play thank you
you ever play thank you
you ever play thank you [Applause]
”
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