EPIC Students Get Out of This World Advice at Virtual NASA Career Panel

Along with students from across the country, EPIC students attended a virtual career panel with NASA engineers, apprentices and an equipment operator on Thursday afternoon. The panelists included Chief Engineer, Gateway Power and Propulsion Element Monica Guzik; Instrument Maker Apprentice Josh Abood; Peripheral Equipment Operator Enricque Lee; and Metal Fabricator Apprentice Mason Shuster.  

Students asked questions about getting started at NASA, experience needed to stand out as a candidate, the process of launching a moon mission, and the most stressful part of their jobs and how they manage it, to name a few. 

The panelists spoke on needing hands-on experience with power tools and showing initiative as necessities for success when applying to NASA. They mentioned time management, making mistakes, people skills and imposter syndrome as their biggest hurdles. 

“I remind myself that I earned a spot here,” said Guzik. “The people around me are brilliant, but maybe I am too and that's why I belong in this position.”

Thanks to Special Education teacher Keith Freeman and Mentorship Program Sponsor Tayonne Gaines for making this happen for our students at EPIC!