Grace Tan-Wang

On a typical day I spend about half my time working with others for their expertise and the other half of the time putting together the pieces for a design that will work.

The most enjoyable thing about my job at NASA is working with highly competent people and being a part of exciting space missions.

I pretty much always enjoyed math and sciences. I think that since I enjoyed these subjects this led to better performance. It also helped that both my parents are engineers so they could help me more in these areas.

I was never pressured not to pursue math and science. I went to MIT, which is a technical college, and there was some (self-imposed) intimidation when I first entered. During my freshman year there were mostly males in the classes. I eventually got used to that, which is good for work now, since there are still more male than female aerospace engineers.

I like traveling, bicycling and volleyball. One of my most memorable trips was a bicycle tour through Alaska. Currently, my husband and I are primarily focussed on our two young girls. Kelly is 3 years old and Marisa is one and a half years old. We are looking forward to traveling with them more in the future.

When I was growing up I didn't understand the working world. It is very different from anything I had expected. I think the "Bring Your Children to Work" idea addresses this and I encourage that.

I find this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson particularly inspiring to me.

SUCCESS
To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty, find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden path or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.