Dr. Mae Jemison
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO FLY IN SPACE
Mae Carol Jemison was born October 17, 1956, in Decatur , Alabama . She had a dream of becoming a doctor and set her sights on achieving this goal regardless of gender, ethnic or social barriers. At the age of 16, Mae entered Stanford University on a scholarship, where she eventually graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. She applied for, and was accepted into the Cornell University Medical School , where she graduated with a Doctorate degree in Medicine in 1981.
During medical school, she became interested in the health problems of third world countries. After graduation, she traveled to and spent a medical clerkship in Thailand at a Cambodian Refugee Camp. She returned to the U.S. in 1985, and decided to follow another dream that she had nurtured for a long time. She wanted to be an astronaut. She applied for and was accepted into their program. Unfortunately the Challenger disaster of January 1986 slowed the process, yet she continued training and was selected as a crewmember. Her title was that of a Science-Mission Specialist and her duty was to perform numerous scientific experiments during her role as an astronaut. On September 12, 1992, Dr. Jemison finally flew into space with six other astronauts aboard the Endeavour on mission STS-47. Her background as a medical doctor was perfect for a series of experiments involving weightlessness and motion sickness.
She left NASA in 1993 and became a world celebrity constantly in demand as a speaker. She was strong advocate of the sciences and minority involvement. Dr. Jemison founded the Jemison Group inc., located in Houston , Texas , to develop advanced technologies suited for a developing world. One example of the scope of her program is the development of a satellite-based telecommunication system to improve health care in West Africa . This would allow physicians to treat patients although they were thousands of miles apart.
Younger youth. Dr. Jemison excelled at achievement. Despite her humble background she became a medical doctor who has served the needy around the globe. She additionally sought and became an astronaut and has matched her medical expertise with technology to benefit people around the world. Certainly as a physician with her extensive medical background she recognizes the many risks that indulgence in substance abuse poses to anyone. Had she been tempted to experiment with marijuana or other drugs in school or while attending college, or as an astronaut, it is highly doubtful she could ever have achieved any meaningful success. Dr. Jemison adheres to the standard of living a drug-free life style. Drug-free! Way to be!
Older youth. Physician? Astronaut? Researcher? Globally recognized authority? What other achievements still lie in store for this accomplished and still relatively young woman? Many of her era thought that the "rightful place" for any woman was "in the home as a housewife and mother raising children," and not one of riding rocket ships into space. How many times might she have heard those very words? Yet she was not to be discouraged; instead, she persevered in pursuit of her goals. And just look at what she has achieved.
Now imagine for a moment just how hard it must have been for her to accomplish those many achievements. She committed herself to years of study and self-investment. No doubt she turned down repeated invitations to parties and to have a good time with others so that she could better prepare for exams and complete her many courses—this was no easy accomplishment. And finally she realized fully that drugs like marijuana and alcohol could easily have destroyed it all, and she made a steadfast commitment not to indulge in such dangerous behaviors. Dr. Jemison has made a lifetime of setting goals for herself based on intelligent decisions and a lot of behind the scenes hard work. She epitomizes the word, success. And she exemplifies the standard of living drug-free. Way to be!
Dr. Mae Jemison is an outstanding role model for young people who have a dream of becoming "someone special." She made her dreams come true despite many obstacles and she truly is an "American Treasure."
This curriculum is sponsored by the Drug Demand Reduction
Program of the Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters
Maxwell AFB, Alabama
