Bernadette Luna

There are many enjoyable aspects about my duties at NASA. The work involves both engineering AND biology, which is a good mix for someone who had strong inclinations to become a medical doctor. In fact, some of our technologies have been adapted for medical use. We're always looking for dual-use technologies, and it just so happens that space life support technologies can be akin to medical life support technologies. Also, there is a direct link with the astronaut office, since they are the eventual users of our products. I get a firsthand account of what spaceflight is like. Lastly, we get to do some real FUN sorts of testing: underwater neutral buoyancy testing (SCUBA), and KC-135 zero-gravity testing.

I have an undergraduate degree in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master's in mechanical engineering from Stanford. I don't recall ever being directed away from taking math or science classes in favor of more liberal arts type classes. However, I was considered at a young age to have some artistic talent, and the details of that course of education were outlined to me. Although I excelled in math, physical sciences, and biological sciences, neither pursuit was favored by the adults who influenced my life. The practical (monetary compensation) aspects of a scientific/engineering career was noted, as compared to a career in the arts.

I've learned since then that engineering is not necessarily one of the most lucrative occupations. As a young adult, I was encouraged to follow the path most attractive to me, regardless of its practicality. I feel fortunate in that I cannot recall any major obstacles, except the financial ones. I come from a large, lower-middle class family, and expensive educations were not affordable. I was able to attend a prestigious, private university with the help of federal and state financial aid. My success as an undergraduate paved the way for an excellent graduate education, which is still ongoing.

Somehow there is plenty of time to be active outside of work. I've played both women's and coed soccer in some of the local recreational leagues. I knit when I find time: sweaters, blankets, etc. I jog and lift weights regularly, and swim occasionally. I some day hope to do triathlons. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at Stanford. I have three children ages seven, five, and two. I visit local schools several times each year to talk about my work at NASA and educate young people. My family resides on the East coast, so I visit as often as possible.

My advice regarding school: Take as many classes as you can and still stay sane. Exposure to lots of subjects will stimulate your mind now, and the information will come in handy in the future. You'd be surprised. Take as much math as you can, but not at the expense of everything else. It seems math plays a large part in everything I do, and the more you can learn in high school, the more you'll be able to cover in college. Plus, math plays a foundation role in the sciences: physics, chemistry, biology. There are lots of math courses I would still love to take.

Participate in extracurricular activities if there are any to your liking. If not, seek out activities in the community (scouting, 4H, sports, journalism, volunteer work, etc.). As you near high school graduation, try to find a job, preferably one that might expose you to the career you're thinking about. If you're thinking about medicine, work at the local hospital. Work in a doctor's office, or a clinic. If you're thinking of computer programming, stock at a local electronics store, or do data entry for a business. Volunteer if they won't pay you; it's when you're young that you can afford to do that. The experience will certainly help you obtain future, better-paying jobs, if you choose to do so. If the experience is a bad one, better to learn early that THAT job is not the one for you.

My advice regarding families: You CAN have a career and a family and still be happy. Some women pursue both simultaneously; some take a break from their careers and raise a family and return to work afterwards. It's very individual, and the women who are NOW doing both are pioneering the way, pushing for flexible work options that someday will be commonplace. We're making slow progress. When you begin your career, I hope there will be more role models, more precedents, for you. More employers willing to have parttime workers, work-from-home employees, more career direction choices.

I was an exchange student to Thailand during one summer in high school. I was to stay with a large Thai family, which made me feel somewhat comfortable, having been used to the chaos of large families. They sent pictures and they wrote me and introduced themselves. But en route I learned my host family had changed. Upon my arrival I met another family, with only three very small children. I had no peers. I was lonely. I received no mail from the States for four weeks. To compound my depression, I found the food not to my liking, and was appalled at commonness of insects and lizards inside the home. Somehow weeks slipped by, and all I can recall is WAITING for mail. But after a couple of weeks I began to attend school. I know only the rudiments of the Thai language, but luckily the students were more familiar with English than I was with Thai. I spent a good deal of time helping the Thai students with English difficulties. There were two subjects I could understand, however: math, and physical education. Those two classes provided the opportunity I needed to make friends and gain confidence.

Gradually, I was included in more and more of their recreational activities, traveling to various cities, seeing sights and even spending the night in a house on stilts in the rice paddies. I saw gem mines, water buffalo, and beautiful temples. I observed how Thai silk is produced; I had some clothes tailor-made for myself. I rode elephants, made unbrellas, shopped and haggled with vendors. I tried more and more traditional foods. I even purchased the food at the open-air market. I gradually realized that there were TONS of things I wanted to do before leaving Thailand, but unfortunately my time was almost up. I made a desperate attempt to accomplish things in those final few weeks, probably in an effort to compensate for my indifference in the earlier weeks. But the whole time I had an overwhelming feeling of panic that "my time was up" and that I'd never really accomplish everything I would have liked to. If only I hadn't been so consumed by my own loneliness in those first few weeks! I wanted those days back!

It's been over 20 years since that trip, and I don't keep in touch with my host family or my fellow travelers. But there's one lesson that's stayed with me from that trip, and it's probably the foundation of my drive, my motivation, my perseverence. It is this: Life is short. Our time here on this planet is finite. We must do all we can NOW, for we can't go back and make up for lost time. These days when I have the opportunity and the inclination to do something, I DO it. "Just do it," like the slogan says.

Archive of chats with Bernadette:

• 10-16-96 Web Chat