1 minute read
Reaching for the Stars
Alyssa Carson
by Tabitha Vilardo
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Seeking to spotlight young Louisiana women with big dreams and big follow-through, I sat down with 19-year-old aspiring astronaut, Alyssa Carson.
This Baton Rouge native has already built an impressive resume. After graduating from Baton Rouge International School, her plans to become an astronaut brought her to Florida Tech, where she’s majoring in Astrobiology. She speaks four languages, has visited 27 countries and is a licensed pilot. She’s also a Science Communicator having spoken on S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) at numerous conferences around the globe, including 4 TED Talks, and currently has contracts with Nike and Olay.
Knowing what it takes to be selected by NASA, she started young and continues to do everything that she can to turn her already impressive resume into an irresistible one. It’s this big dream and follow-through mindset that makes her an inspirational example of young women from our great state that deserve the spotlight and our cheers!
What’s Next?
I was so glad to be able to meet with Alyssa while she was home for the holidays and talk about what’s new in her world. On December 1st, 2020 Alyssa began an internship with Jacobs Space Exploration Group, NASA’s largest professional and technical service provider. During her internship, Alyssa hopes to inspire young people all around the world who are interested in S.T.E.M. to pursue their dreams. She also plans to educate each group on their nation’s space agencies, so they can take the steps needed to reach their goals and fill one of the tens of thousands of jobs available within these agencies. With Alyssa being an influencer and a captivating public speaker, I believe that Jacobs has made a great decision to have her be part of the team. She’s excited about the opportunity and feels like it’s a step in the right direction on the path to fulfilling her own dreams.
