What does it take?

Tracy Caldwell. Know her? I am sure the first name is right but can't be 100% sure with the last name. Let me tell you who she is. She is an astronaut. Why am I writing about her? I had an opportunity to attend a lecture she was giving at UC, Davis today. In this post I'll try to put my thoughts on her talk.

Before commenting on the talk in general I have to explain what I expect from such lectures. Firstly, I look for words that will motivate me. It does not have to motivate me to become an astronaut but has to reinstate my belief that only sincereity, hard work and determination can lead to success. Yes, you read it right, I used the word "reinstate" because I know these things already. Secondly, I wish to hear how the speaker made his or her way to the set goal. Finally, I am curious to hear how she it felt when the goal is attained.

There is something about being an astronaut. It is fascinating. It is a little more fascinating then being a pilot or even an F-1 driver. There have been several 'cool' things to do on earth but the coolest of all is still when you are out there, in space. To simply be associated with any space related work is so satisfying but to actually go out there is so 'glamorous'.

Reaching the hall early had me waiting for fifteen minutes. I was starting to yawn every every three seconds but once the speaker was introduced I was wide awake. She had a bachelor's in chemistry and was damn good at track and field. The first sentence of her SOP to grad school read "I have always wanted to be an astronaut". She was an exceptional researcher with eight publications from her PhD. She learnt Russian (mandatory to become an astronaut), practised hard on the track and sang the national anthem in the hallway to hear her eco. That's how she made her way. One of the expectations I had was met as her journey to becoming an astronaut was covered in this introduction.

Tracy is a very good public speaker. She opened with introducing her team and moved on to pictures of astronaut training. Her descriptions and narrations were so vivid and in such plain language that everyone, the children too, was hooked. Once she moved from the training to speaking of the launch, docking on the ISS, stay in the ISS, separation from the ISS and landing there were moments of awe, shock and laughter. It was a fantastic piece of 'popular' lecture.

The fact that she enjoyed what she had done was for me expected. After all, it is an enviable profession. Another expectation was met.

If I were asked to pick one aspect of her that I liked most I'd it was the 'check-list'. Her advisor said that she had a list of tasks to accomplish through her PhD to get her into position to apply for the job of an astronaut. The lesson I have learnt today, which I have known all along, is that planning is the key to 'getting there'. But before that we have to set where we have to get. Many often say they want to be successful but those same people have not already defined what the word 'success' means to them. Tracy knew what 'success' meant to her. I was motivated.