The Great Escape - Going to NASA!

The Great Escape - Going to NASA!

THE GREAT ESCAPE - GOING TO NASA!

My friend Doreen worked in the Engineering department. She wrote documentation and procedures for the engineers. She was an unusual, sensitive girl. Sometimes the engineers made fun of her because her sensitivity caused her difficulty getting along with some of the stronger personalities, and they played on it.

Doreen looked like she was a woman from back in the 1950s. It was a combination of the way she dressed in vintage suits, her glasses, and the way she wore her hair. She had a unique style all her own. Some of her coworkers detected a weakness, and they bullied her. Some of the guys in her department teased her and harassed her by telling her they did not believe she had a boyfriend or fiancé and that no one would ever marry her. Sometimes she would cry at work if they pressed her. People can be so cruel.

Her quirkiness didn’t bother me. And although she was sometimes secretive, not wanting to reveal too much about herself, I found her to be very sweet, kind, astute, and great with the computer and word processing. I discovered she was very well-read and an interesting conversationalist. I allowed her to be herself, and I believe she felt comfortable with me.

She told me about the night school she was attending because she was determined to finish her degree and make something of herself. “So, I don’t have to put up with these jokers anymore,” she said. I commended her for that and told her I felt the same. We shared that desire, and I believe it became our bond. She encouraged me to go back to school. I promised I would.

Doreen told me that besides finishing her degree, she had begun studying Technical Writing at De Anza college for career enhancement. It was a certificate program. A few days later, she invited me to the Society for Technical Communicators meeting, albeit Technical Writers in Silicon Valley. This all sounded interesting, so I agreed to attend the meeting. But she asked me to keep it a secret.

As soon as I got there, I was blown away to see so many intelligent and energetic people excited about their work! And there were jobs! The room was buzzing with activity. Jobs were being announced. People were happy! Money was being made! What more could you want?

Wow! I knew this was for me. I joined the Society that night. The next day I enrolled in the San Jose State program for technical writing, thinking if I studied hard and completed all the coursework, I could begin applying for jobs in about a year. I felt motivated. I now had a professional goal and a plan. I knew it was time to start thinking about how I would exit my present job. There was no career path for me there except to leave. I tried to apply for several internal positions but was turned down. Now I just needed to ensure I had somewhere to go and that it was a step up.

A few weeks later, the stars suddenly aligned for Doreen. As luck would have it, one of her classmates at De Anza worked as an administrative assistant for Code Q at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. They were looking for technical writers and editors for an ISO 9001 project. She asked Doreen if she would like to come in for an interview for a position as a Technical Editor.

What do you think happened? BINGO! She landed the job! Incredible! She put in her two-week notice and was gone! Everyone was shocked. I was very impressed with Doreen’s progress. This motivated me even more. We were on the right track. I could see the possibilities.

What happened next was even more unbelievable. Doreen had been on the job for about six weeks. I was only four weeks into my first class when I received a phone call at work from Doreen one afternoon. Thank goodness my phone had been restored after the commander left! Remember, this was back in the day before mobile phones!

Doreen sounded very solemn; I thought something was wrong. But she was always a bit dramatic. I thought she would tell me she broke up with her boyfriend or something. Then she says, “I have an announcement; Mr. Walker would like to formally invite you to come in for an interview for a Technical Editor position at NASA! Here he is now; he would like to speak with you.”

Then she handed the phone to Mr. Walker. I hear a proper Southern gentleman, with a thick Texas drawl, “Hello Laura, I have heard wonderful things about you from your friend Doreen. We need someone with your expertise in Document Control here at NASA. We are going to get ISO 9001 certified. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss this opportunity. When can you come in?” “I can come in tomorrow if that works,” I said, trying to remain calm. He responded, “That sounds perfect! We’ll see you then. You tell the guard at the gate you are coming to see me. They’ll be expecting you. I’ll give you back to Doreen now, and she can give you the details of what building we are in. I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow! Good-bye.” I got the details from Doreen and hung up.

Oh my God! Just like that! I was so pumped that I left my desk and took a brisk walk around the building. My heart was pounding. I even stopped and smoked a cigarette with the smokers. Luckily it was the end of the day, so I went back into the office and got ready to go home. I knew I didn’t have the job yet, but this sounded good! I was so excited!! It was a personal referral. I wanted to get some champagne, but it was too soon, and I didn’t want to jinx it.

That evening I spoke with Doreen and thanked her for putting a good word in for me. She told me all about what it was like and how friendly and respectful Mr. Walker was. She sounded so happy, and I was pleased for her. She said she knew I would love it there. She said, “I want you to be here with me; you deserve it.” Doreen was sincerely excited for me. I slept like a baby.

The next day, I left work early to beat the southbound traffic and make my 4:00 pm appointment with Mr. Walker. I was to report to the Office of the Director of Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate (Code Q). Just taking that Moffett Field exit off the freeway was exhilarating. I had driven past the facility many times on the 101 and wondered what went on there. Now I was approaching the gate to go for a job interview at NASA!

The interview went beautifully, and I was offered the job. I floated home in my car. I do not remember driving. I felt like I was on autopilot. I remember thinking to myself that this was happening too fast. I had barely started school. But I believed the universe would not offer me something I was not ready for. I remembered all that I had been through and realized I was due for something good, and this was it.

I returned to work the next day with the best-kept secret ever! I must have looked like the cat who swallowed the canary. I was walking on air. Nothing bothered me. I felt crazy drunk, and I was walking around laughing. One guy asked, “What’s up with you?” I felt empowered. About a week later, the official offer letter arrived, and upon receipt, I gave my two-week notice.

The company I was working for was privately owned, and there were not a lot of rules about email. I submitted my resignation to my manager and sent an email blast to the entire company announcing my exit. “It is with much regret that I will be leaving the company effective…I’ve accepted a position at the NASA Ames Research Center…I’ve been assigned to the Aeronautics Directorate.” I laid it on thick in the email, mainly for the benefit of the commander’s leftovers.

Boy, did that news travel fast! Some people looked bewildered. I caught everyone by surprise, and it was so enjoyable!  It was like they thought I would be there forever. “Are you leaving? Are you really leaving?” “Man, you caught me by surprise with that one.” “You go, girl.” “Congratulations.”

But I always knew I was transitioning; after all, I had already had two careers. This was my new career in quality, and I was just starting. People were buzzing around and coming by to congratulate me.  I had never heard so many ‘wows’ in my life. I was so happy I did not care if they were dissing me or didn’t think I was qualified or capable. My news woke many people up, and it was so fun to see their reactions. My assistant burst into tears. I told her she would be fine. She clung to me for the next two weeks.

The prospect of working at NASA was not something I had ever dreamed of being possible, and now it was happening. Thank goodness for friends like Doreen. I will never forget her kindness. I was grateful once again that someone saw something in me. It was like a miracle. The wheels were in motion. A great new adventure was ahead!

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