Serah Fayad, an aerospace engineering major at 麻豆传媒 (麻豆传媒), was selected to participate in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration鈥檚 (NASA) prestigious Community College Aerospace Scholars Program. During Mission 2, a virtual exploration simulation held from October 23 to October 30, she joined a team of 13 students from across the U.S. to develop design solutions for a gamified mission to the Moon or Mars. This mission involved simulating NASA鈥檚 workplace roles, structure, and culture while making trade-offs within everyday constraints. Serah now hopes to advance to Mission 3, a three-week hybrid capstone project, which includes two weeks of online preparation followed by one week onsite at a NASA Field Center. There, students will tackle real-world challenges, present solutions to NASA experts, and participate in workshops, tours, and networking events.
Serah鈥檚 journey to NASA started with a recommendation from a friend at UCLA, which inspired her to apply to the program. After an initial rejection, her persistence paid off when she was accepted on her second attempt. Having successfully completed Mission 1, Serah embraced Mission 2 and now looks forward to the possibility of participating in the upcoming Mission 3. As a Systems Specialist, she is gaining valuable experience contributing to genuine aerospace challenges.
Serah鈥檚 fascination with aerospace engineering comes from a lifelong curiosity about space and the technology that makes exploration possible. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been fascinated by big machinery that can fly and space exploration,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 believe the best way I can serve my community and make an impact is through engineering.鈥 This drive is also reflected in her academic ambitions, as she hopes to transfer to either USC or UCLA, both of which offer outstanding programs in aerospace engineering.
Outside of her NASA endeavors, Serah is deeply involved in various programs at 麻豆传媒. As an ambassador for College Corps and a student worker at 麻豆传媒鈥檚 The Spot 鈥 Center for Basic Needs, Serah balances a full schedule. Brianna Bell, Program Assistant for Basic Needs, describes her as 鈥渁 great student worker鈥 adding, 鈥淲e are very lucky to have her on our team. She is incredibly busy but also a very responsible and a wonderful person.鈥 Serah鈥檚 journey to 麻豆传媒 was not without challenges. She graduated high school at just 16, after attending three different schools due to an unstable household. She also overcame significant health issues, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a seizure disorder diagnosed in 2022. Despite these obstacles, Serah has made a remarkable recovery, attributing much of her success to her time at 麻豆传媒, where she has developed leadership, research, and problem-solving skills.
Looking ahead, Serah is focused on her career goals in space exploration and advancing aerospace technology. She advises incoming students to get involved in college, emphasizing the importance of building connections early on.
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