Girl's Joy

During her 34-year career, African-American computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist Annie Easley worked on projects at NASA that led to the hybrid vehicles in use today. In addition she helped to create the software that enabled spaceflight and exploration. Annie earned a degree in mathematics and attended classes full-time at Cleveland State University, all while working full-time at NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics). Annie’s male colleagues had their tuition paid for, but she had to come up with the money to pay for her own courses. She was encouraged from her youth by a mother who taught her that nothing was beyond her reach. “You can be anything you want to. It doesn’t matter what you look like, what your size is, what your color is. You can be anything you want to, but you do have to work at it.”