From Laredo to Space
My name is Victoria Rendon. I was accepted into the International Space University’s (ISU) Masters of Space Studies Program (MSS) in Strasbourg, France, for the Fall 2021 semester and intend to move to Strasbourg this coming August.
I am overjoyed to share my admission into this one-of-a-kind master’s program as a first-generation Mexican-America daughter of immigrants, first-generation college graduate, and a proud Laredoan. As a Hispanic woman in STEM, attending ISU in pursuit of my master’s degree represents a significant accomplishment.
According to U.S. Department of Labor, Latinas represent the smallest group of women to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, at only 19% of the female population. Broken down to STEM-related degrees, Hispanic women represent about 3.5% of all STEM degrees. Narrowed down even further to master’s degrees, the numbers drop off significantly.
With my acceptance into graduate school at ISU, I am one step closer to breaking through this barrier and keeping the door open for others like me.
WHY AM I ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT?
I have had a passion for space since I was a young child and, as I grew older, I realized that I could purse my passions for space and medicine.
In 2014, my family was struck with unforeseen financial hardships that resulted in my withdrawal from university; yet, I didn’t waste any time. I went straight to work in the medical field for six years in a variety of specialties such as HIV care, genetics, pediatrics and dermatology.
When the global pandemic hit, I realized that it was the perfect opportunity to finish my degree, but the financial obstacles remained. Since my parents are retired, they were in no position to financially support me, so I used all my savings and each paycheck I earned to enroll and pay for my remaining undergraduate studies. I earned all A’s my first semester back and graduated this past May with a Bachelors of Arts in Biology from Texas A&M International University.
While finishing my degree, I came to the conclusion that if I wanted to work in the space sector, there had to be a point where I would have to cross the bridge into the space community and found that the perfect match for me was the International Space University.
The Masters of Space Studies program is fundamental in jumpstarting my career in the space sector. It will provide me with access to different international space agencies, opportunities for space related research, networks within the global space community and other space related endeavors. The International Space University has paved the way for many notable alumni, including famous astronauts such as Jessica Meir who conducted the first all-female space walk with Christina Koch, as well as Soyeon Yi who became the first Korean to fly in space. Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, has also served as a chancellor of the university from 2015 to 2018.
Despite the university having a 16% acceptance rate, I decided to take a chance and put together the best application that I could. I knew their applicant pool would be competitive because they have a preference for applicants holding higher academic degrees and applicants with professional experience in industry, government agencies or academic institutions, so, needless to say, I was thrilled to receive an acceptance letter less than 24 hours after my interview, making me one of a handful of Latinas to be admitted.
Although I was awarded a competitive scholarship that covered 60% of my tuition, I must come up with the remainder of the tuition as well as cover my housing expenses and transportation.
My family will help me as much as they are capable of, but, again, they are retired and living off their pension so are unable to help me much with finances.
HERE'S WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP:
• The tuition I have remaining to pay as soon as possible before school starts: $10,500 USD.
• Flight to Strasbourg: $1,500
• Thesis year of the master’s program: $9,300 USD
• Housing for first year: $10,200 USD and includes all utilities, deposits, and renter’s insurance
• Housing for second year is $6,000 USD
• The transactional fees of Go Fund Me
This does not include things such as food, health insurance or VISA fees.
With your contribution, this is one small step for a woman and one giant leap for our community. I will represent our community, not only in a STEM field, but in the space sector, as well.
Thank you for your consideration and feel free to contact me if you need further information or clarification. Any additional donations received will be used on further educational pursuits.
My goal upon completion of the Masters of Space Studies program is to work in the space sector and save money so that I may continue my studies in medicine and to become an aerospace physician for NASA or other space agencies.
If you are unable to donate, I invite you to share, comment, and like!
