Estella Hernandez Gillette

An average day in the Equal Opportunity Office is usually very challenging. Because our office services the entire Johnson Space Center civil service population and is available to counsel contractor personnel. Our average day can involve interfaces with employees who have a multitude of questions regarding issues, personnel situations, and general questions that will make their jobs easier. We interface constantly with management, other NASA centers, other government agencies, and the general public. No day is exactly alike!

I especially value the relationships that we form with our "customers." Generally speaking, our workforce at JSC is very cooperative and very involved in the work. The most enjoyable part of my work is having a "satisfied customer."

Since I am an administrative professional the requirement for math is basic business math. I have taken statistics courses, algebra, finite math, and accounting to fulfill the requirements of my bachelor's and master's degrees and do apply some of that knowledge to my current job. I ended up at NASA many years ago as a clerk-stenographer and have progressed to my current position because of many years of night school and a desire to advance and to keep learning.

Actually, I never received any encouragement to go into a math and science arena. In high school I struggled with algebra and had to get help from the boys around me (I helped them with their Spanish) and finally made it through with a C in the course (my only C in high school!). Since I wanted to be a secretary (my mom and sisters were secretaries), math didn't seem important. As I progressed in my NASA career, I began to find more and more that my deficiency and fear of math was an obstacle to my progression. Therefore, I returned to college after several years and took a night summer school algebra course. I don't know if it was the accelerated course and the fact that I had to do my homework every night and understand it or because I had a really good teacher, but I did manage an A that time. In fact, the next 3 math courses, I made one B and 2 A's. I had overcome my fear of math and discovered that I really did like it! If I'd only known that sooner!

Not that I regret what I'm doing now, but I think I might have enjoyed a technical career, too. I had excellent grades in high school science and even listed biology as a major for a couple of years (I went to night school right out of high school for 3 years).

Time and the right experience were probably the biggest obstacles for me. I believe in preparation "just in case" and I had made becoming the Deputy Director of Equal Opportunity Programs one of my goals a few years ago. So, I diligently prepared, made sure I did the "right" kinds of things to get here, and waited. The goal to become Director was a later one, but circumstances made the Directorship possible sooner than I thought it would happen. Not having a degree throughout the earlier part of my NASA career was an obstacle for a while, but I overcame that by setting a goal to graduate and then "going for it." I graduated with a degree in business administration in 1986 and got a second degree in 1994.

I have a very close-knit family, wonderful parents (my dad is gone now), and wonderful parents-in-law and brothers- and sisters-in-law. I like to spend time with them. My husband of 29 years and I just recently built a brand new, big house and that has become our hobby, along with sharing some of the work with our two grown sons who are still home because they are in college. We love working in it and spend any extra time doing things around the house. He's a handy-man and I like housework! I also do a lot of work with Professional Secretaries International (PSI).

I am the Dean of the Institute for Education, which is the student chapters branch of the organization. That takes some of my time away from the office, including travel time. I am active in my local PSI chapter and like to "give-back" by contributing my services whenever I can to develop the newer members. In addition, I spend a lot of hours doing volunteer work with minority programs for our NASA outreach--career fairs, conferences, presenting workshops, mentoring, and tutoring. I am also a certified English for Speakers of Other Languages tutor. Unfortunately, I have not tutored in 3 years, but do want to return to that voluntary work.

I would have liked to have lost my fear of math early on. I would have liked to have had stronger role models who would have encouraged me to go into the math and science arenas. And, I would have liked to have known more about myself so that I could better adapt to others early on. I've done all of these things now, and it's never too late to start again!!! I am a Mexican immigrant who came to this country when I was 2 years old with my parents, two sisters, and a brother, then had two more American-born brothers. We came as migrant workers with my grandmother and her other children (my mom's mom). My grandmother was an inspiration to me--she was the one who decided it was time to improve our lifestyles and influenced her own children to come to this country.

We all stayed. I have parents who have encouraged me to appreciate my Mexican heritage and Spanish language but who have also stressed the importance of loving our new country and doing those things that will best demonstrate our good citizenship. I have a mother who was the basis for my pursuing an education but who also encouraged me to appreciate my role as a woman, a wife, and a mother. I had a father who shared of himself and taught me respect for authority and for others and that we should share what blessings we have, including ourselves. I have been blessed with many good things--I believe that God has been with me always.

I have two philosophies in life--(1) I don't worry about things that I can't do something about, i.e., unless I intend to do something proactive about it, I won't worry about it, and (2) I have to be "in like with myself." When I'm not in like with myself, others won't be either!

Archived chats with Estella can be found at:

• 04-22-99 QuestChat
• 11-10-98 QuestChat
• 12-17-96 Web Chat
• 10-15-96 Web chat