Leaving NASA: How No Led to a Better Yes.
Offer Accepted!
I applied to NASA several times before finally receiving an interview and then an offer. While it wasn’t the role I initially applied to, being a NASA instructional coach was like taking the most exciting parts of NASA directly to classrooms. Rovers on Mars? Let’s make one life size! Astronauts in space? Let’s bring a few to your classroom! It was thrilling and impactful, so turning in my letter of resignation was a double edged sword.
We moved to Houston from Los Angeles in August 2018. With 4 kids in a new city and my husband working out of town frequently, I stayed home initially to help get everyone settled. After a year of unsuccessfully applying to various positions, I was finishing my very last summer of funded research at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA when I finally received an invitation to interview for a position at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. When the offer letter came through, I was absolutely over the moon! I couldn’t wait to get started. Shortly after accepting the position, I found out I was pregnant with baby #5. I had no idea how it would work logistically, but I was determined to figure it out. Period.
The Work: call me coach
I was hired as a NASA instructional coach– I worked with underserved schools around Houston and infused their campuses and curriculum with NASA resources. I am an outreach enthusiast and huge advocate for making STEM accessible to all students so this role very much aligned with my personal and professional ideals. It was an absolute joy to support students launch rockets on campus, plan over-the-top STEM days, and help teachers and administrators use space exploration to cultivate student interest in STEM. I connected astronauts from all over the world with local schools to share their stories, and inspire the next generation of explorers. I brought teachers on site at NASA and gave them an inside look at facilities and ongoing missions so they could better share those authentic experiences with their students. Every day of work was an absolute thrill…. but life outside of work was less than dreamy <cringe>.
JSC is a solid 1.5hours away from my house, while the high schools I supported were about an hour away. I rotated days working onsite at JSC, and on-site at 3 high schools.
The largest delegates of flown astronauts/cosmonauts from around the world gathered in Houston for a week-long conference. I provided support for 4 astronauts that visited 4 local schools: the students showed out! Dancing drones, musical selections from the campus orchestra, and space food prepared by high school culinary students! The future is bright with the next generation preparing to lead the way!
making it work
I enrolled my then 2-year old, Nathan, in preschool and signed my older three up for before and after school care at their elementary. My kids were the very first to get dropped off and often the last ones to get picked up– after school practices for sports, dance, and gymnastics were not feasible. Because of previous complications, my pregnancy was very high risk and I had significantly more appointments, testing and monitoring than with a regular pregnancy, so taking additional time off when the kids were sick fully depleted my sick days and vacation days. I missed class parties and lunches at school with the kids. After months of “making it work” I realized my long, daily commute to work wasn’t working for our family and it would only get more challenging adding a newborn to the equation. I gave my two weeks notice and asked that they keep me in mind if remote opportunities became available. I was transparent about both my passion for the work, and the realities of having 5 small kids. There wasn’t anything on the horizon, but I appreciated the empathy and kindness shown as I resigned. (SN: I may or may not have drove away that day in tears after turning in my badge.)
New opportunities: countdown to mars
A month later, the unexpected happened. I was offered a temporary, remote, part-time position developing the #CountdownToMars 2020 STEM toolkit connecting K-12 students with the Mars bound Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity helicopter. It was the absolute perfect fit, and I couldn’t have been more excited to connect students with the rover and helicopter I had seen time and time again while it was being built at NASA JPL when I began my fellowship a few years prior. As a fellow, I was intentional about absorbing as much information as I could and making connections with as many people as I could. As a result, I had many connections to people at JPL that were mission critical to the Perseverance launch. Bringing their work to students all over the world was an exciting challenge I gladly and fittingly accepted.
I provided support for the Mars 2020 STEM toolkit from launch to Martian landing. It was an ideal match for me during a season of life where I had newborn on the way, and our four other really young kiddos: 3, 6, 8 & 10 yrs old. Two months into the project, I had baby Mason and the world shut down with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project wrapped up with the Martian landing of the rover in February 2021. As my work portfolio grew, I was offered to provide ongoing support, with more hours, but still part-time and remote, supporting STEM engagement on the International Space Station (cue the confetti).
This role melded my background in scientific research, my training as an educator, and my passion for increasing access to STEM experiences– all from home. Shortly after, that position turned into a full-time, remote position that felt made for me: it allowed me to make a meaningful contribution to NASA’s mission, do challenging work I enjoyed, and maintain a work-life balance that works for our family. Quitting a position I loved was incredibly difficult- I had no idea when or if another door would open that would fit for our family. However, saying “no” ultimately enabled me to say “yes” to other opportunities much more aligned with my passions and family life.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
no. nope. not today. yeah, no.
As I reflect on my 2024 goals and begin to prepare for the New Year, I’m grateful for the “no’s” and “not now’s” I’ve used to guard my time. Truth: I’m a work in progress and constantly reassessing where I need to pepper in more “no’s”. I’m also reflecting on any areas where I’m devoting my time that could be better served elsewhere. Here are few other no’s that have helped me create more balance as a mom:
No to being room mom for my kids classes: For at about 7 years, I’d been a room mom for my kids’ classes– and often multiple classes at once. When I switched to working full time, I found all the little tasks needed as room mom diverted my focus too frequently and were hard to keep up with along with work (and the 59347 other things on my mom to-do list). Instead, I talk to my kids teachers at the beginning of the year and offer to support any STEM days or activities they have. I also offer to help with anything I can do from home, or on my own time– this allows me to help after I put the kids to bed, or plan STEM activities for the class while I’m having my morning coffee.
No to playdates scattered throughout the week/weekend. Instead, I try to schedule play-dates and hang outs with friends on the same day for all the kids, at our house when feasible. Ordering pizza for 15 kids takes the same energy as ordering it for 5 kids ;) I look for ways to consolidate as much as possible.
No to trying to do it all myself– I look for ways to outsource help when ever possible. With 7 people in the house and multiple after school sports and activities, my time is really stretched. Using free curbside grocery pickup was a simple switch- letting the store staff do the shopping frees up about 1-2 hours a week of my time– over a year, that can adds up to about 96 hours I can spend doing something other than cruising the isles at HEB. (I still make runs to the store here and there).
I’d love to hear how saying “no” has led to an even better “yes” for you! Send me a note about a time you’ve chose to quit or say “no” to get to a better “yes”. I’m with you if you’re still waiting on that better yes… it will come! Rooting for you, mama.
p.s. If you’re curious about what I’m up to at work, connect with me on LinkedIn. Join my free FB group for super mama’s dreaming big, crushing goals, and creating balanced lives. Join here. See you there!
p.p.s: I started at NASA as a STAR (STEM Teacher and Researcher Fellow). STAR is currently accepting applications for fellows for placement at national labs around the country in Summer 2025. Check it out!
Xo, Michelle
