Latino+Essay+CO

Everyone has a dream. Everyone has that on thing they have wanted to be since they were little. The difference is, some people give up on the child inside of them. Reality hits them and they think its an insane idea to do what they want. Especially if you grew up in the in the 50's and 60's. Then there was segregation and if you were Spanish or African American it almost seemed impossible to reach your dreams. Some people didn't care what anyone said and went after what they wanted. Some people like Ellen Ochoa.

Ellen Ochoa had a dream since she was a little girl to go up into space. She was sadly in the time of segregation. So since she was a Mexican American she did not get treated like a white person would and she was not treated equally. She grew up in a terrible time and not many kids that were treated differently had as high hopes as her. She became the first female Hispanic astronaut. If that isn't what you consider inspiring, I don't know what is. (Astronaut Bio: Ellen Ochoa)

Ellen became an astronaut in July 1991. Only a short three years after just becoming an astronaut, she was sent out into space in April 1993. At the end of all of her work and all of the time that she had spent in space, she had a total of 40 days. She says there is almost nothing as rewarding as hearing that you cant do it, and showing people that you can anyways. The thing she liked most about being in space was looking out the window and seeing earth and wondering who was looking back up at you. This is one of the reasons that I really like her. She is such a deep person and is so normal for having so much accomplishments and money in her life. Ellen is always sop nice and giving and always knows the right thing to say. (Ellen Ochoa Biography)

She has received numerous awards so many things. Ochoa won roughly over 15 awards. Some were about how good of a leader she was, others about how good she did on the space mission. Others were like Women in Aerospace Outstanding Achievement Award and the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award. Ochoa also got recognized at her college as San Diego State University Alumni of the year. The coolest thing that I think she received was Hispanic Heritage Award that I mentioned because at that time she was such an inspiration to Hispanics and its really amazing to me. She has been recognized in so many ways and is an international inspiration. (Astronaut Bio: Ellen Ochoa)

Ellen later went on to achieve different things. After a while she started to study the ozen layer and its damage. Ellen also conducted some studies on the sun and how it affects Earth's climate and atmosphere. She was also in charge of the U.S. Astronaut Support Office for two years. She still now is continuing to do much research for science. The most important thing in my eyes though is that she does speeches in front of school children. Everyone deserves an inspiration and she goes around on a daily basis and teaches kids all over the world that dreams come true. Honestly I wish I could do that with everything I have. She changes lives everyday and has impacted the world in such a unique way that no one will ever be able to replace her. She will be immortalized through history. (Inventor of the Week: Archive)

From the girl that had nothing, to an international, worldwide inspiration. From the Hispanic that was told could not do anything, to the most recognized female Hispanic that has ever been to space. Ellen Ochoa’s story is truly moving and touching. It has motivated so many people around the globe and for as long as people will be around, her story will be told. She is a huge inspiration to me and because of her, I will never let anyone tell me I can not do anything because I am Hispanic.


 * "Inventor of the Week: Archive." Inventor of the Week: Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014. .

http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/ochoa.html


 * "Astronaut Bio: Ellen Ochoa (3/2014)." Astronaut Bio: Ellen Ochoa (3/2014). N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2014. .

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ochoa.html


 * "Ellen Ochoa Biography" Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 02 May 2014. .

http://www.biography.com/people/ellen-ochoa-10413023#awesm=~oD7OipAXBFMriA