1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:08,050 My name is Cynthia Simmons and I am Instrument Project Manager in the Flight 2 00:00:08,050 --> 00:00:12,080 Projects Directorate here at Goddard Space Flight Center and specific work 3 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,160 Project Management over in house instruments and the mission I am working is ICESat, 4 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,190 Atlas. 5 00:00:20,190 --> 00:00:24,210 (Music) 6 00:00:24,210 --> 00:00:28,260 When I was a young girl, I thought I would be a write. Then I thought I was going to be 7 00:00:28,260 --> 00:00:32,270 a Physcian a Neuro surgern, when I became an engineer 8 00:00:32,270 --> 00:00:36,300 I thought I wanted to be an astronaut and I was actually on that path 9 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:40,400 when I was in the military. I never imagine, in my time 10 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,420 or my experiences 11 00:00:44,420 --> 00:00:48,460 that I would be given the opportunities that I've been given to work 12 00:00:48,460 --> 00:00:52,480 all these incredibile missions, I never dream that 13 00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:56,510 The first day when I was 14 00:00:56,510 --> 00:01:00,550 actually a civil servant, it was like walking on cloud nine 15 00:01:00,550 --> 00:01:04,610 those all the words that are used a lot, but 16 00:01:04,610 --> 00:01:08,630 I was in a dream world for a long time. 17 00:01:08,630 --> 00:01:12,670 Originally I am from St. Louis Missouri, that's where I was 18 00:01:12,670 --> 00:01:16,700 born and raised. My mother 19 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:20,730 moved us from the city, because she wanted education opportunities. 20 00:01:20,730 --> 00:01:24,740 We're extremely poor, I remember 21 00:01:24,740 --> 00:01:28,760 many times, but we didn't know it at the time because it looked like this was 22 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:32,790 the thing you should do. We would be eating hot dogs, that ever kid loves to do, 23 00:01:32,790 --> 00:01:36,830 and my mom had a hot cup of Lipton tea and a slice 24 00:01:36,830 --> 00:01:40,850 of white bread that she toasted and then she was dipping it in 25 00:01:40,850 --> 00:01:44,880 She would sweeten, we thought we want that, but she would say "no, you need to eat 26 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,940 hot dog". What I later learned she didn't have money for 27 00:01:48,940 --> 00:01:52,980 enough food for herself. 28 00:01:52,980 --> 00:01:57,010 What I feel most grateful for and most 29 00:01:57,010 --> 00:02:01,030 excited about what I've done here. I've been able to 30 00:02:01,030 --> 00:02:05,050 participate in a lot of different mission and not only 31 00:02:05,050 --> 00:02:09,070 size, but scope of science and where they are going 32 00:02:09,070 --> 00:02:13,130 into space, what are they doing and I was able to participate in the design 33 00:02:13,130 --> 00:02:17,140 as well as leading teams who are designing. 34 00:02:17,140 --> 00:02:21,170 No matter what your path of life is 35 00:02:21,170 --> 00:02:25,210 no matter the circumstances any time alone the life 36 00:02:25,210 --> 00:02:29,230 don't let that define who you are 37 00:02:29,230 --> 00:02:33,260 and how you react and use that to 38 00:02:33,260 --> 00:02:37,310 enjoy life. I have learned in all these experiences that it's really important 39 00:02:37,310 --> 00:02:41,340 to learn how to love life 40 00:02:41,340 --> 00:02:45,360 appreciate what you have, to learn how to enjoy every moment 41 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,420 appreciate every opportunity 42 00:02:49,420 --> 00:02:53,430 seek the next opportunity, make sure when you, I always say when I open a door, I want to make sure 43 00:02:53,430 --> 00:02:57,480 that there is at least two doors behind there, and if I only find one 44 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,520 because you aren't all knowing, look for window. So you have at least two 45 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,540 paths on to the next thing. 46 00:03:05,540 --> 00:03:09,580 Don't let where you are right now, constrict where your vector 47 00:03:09,580 --> 00:03:13,650 has to go in live. 48 00:03:13,650 --> 00:03:17,670 (music) 49 00:03:17,670 --> 00:03:21,700 (music) 50 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:23,150 end