![\"Tawnya](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ceb-5997a.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cWhen I transitioned from Spelman to Georgia Tech, it was probably the first time in my life that I had a professor that made me question if I belonged or had what it takes. Previously, I was always used as an example of how students should study, and now, in my first chemical engineering class, I would raise my hand for a question and wouldn\u2019t get recognized, or my question would be followed by, \u2018I\u2019m not sure I understand what you\u2019re saying, Miss Plummer.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI was struggling with imposter syndrome before I knew what that was, wondering, \u2018Have I just been in some dream world up until now? Am I not as smart as I thought I was?\u2019 I would be in my room just knocking out homework problems, no problem, but I would get in class, and it was almost like I\u2019d freeze up. [My professor] would be walking around the room, and I could not make my brain work. I really struggled through that and did not pass that class \u2013 the first time I had ever not passed a class \u2013 and this was supposed to be my major!<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026Sometimes you look around and wonder why you don\u2019t see a lot of [people of color] in some positions, and it\u2019s probably because of situations like this where we have such high standards but feel we cannot meet them. We don\u2019t give ourselves grace. We assume, \u2018This obviously isn\u2019t for me.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026But I knew I could do it. I had to, number one, get out of my head and, two, realize not everyone will be a fan or in your corner cheering for you\u2026 As a young college student, it was the first time I ever faced [this situation], and it buckled me. It set me back until I realized that I could do it and that my worth wasn\u2019t based on what someone else thought of me or my abilities\u2026I went back that next semester with a new mindset and determination, and I passed that class with an A and moved on through the rest of my engineering classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat [experience] really informed the type of leader I am and taught me how to make sure that everybody has a voice and feels like they belong. Looking back, I thought it was the worst thing in the world when I was going through it, but now I see it was exactly what I needed at that point in my life to understand that I\u2019m meant to be here doing what I am doing. I learned to give myself grace. If I had pulled myself out of that STEM major, I would never have been managing a technology demonstration program for NASA that launched ten technologies into space.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013\u00a0Tawnya Plummer Laughinghouse, Director of the Materials and Processes Laboratory, Engineering Directorate, NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center<\/p>\n
Image Credit: NASA\/Charles Beason
Interviewer: NASA\/Tahira Allen<\/p>\n
Check out some of our other Faces of NASA.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> \u201cWhen I transitioned from Spelman to Georgia Tech, it was probably the first time in my life that I had a professor that made me question if I belonged or had what it takes. Previously, I was always used as an example of how students should study, and now, in my first chemical engineering class, [\u2026] Continue reading
\nTahira S. Allen <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"