Mae Jemison Research Paper

Mae Jemison is not only the first African American woman to go into space but a very intelligent and strong woman who has left a mark on the America. Mae Carol Jemison was born on October 17, 1956 in Decatur, Alabama. Her father, Charlie Jemison, worked as a roofer and a carpenter. Her mother, Dorothy Jemison worked as an elementary school teacher. When Jemison was three years old, her family moved to Chicago, Illinois. Better educational opportunities in Chicago prompted their move. They continued to be very supportive and encouraging to Jemison. Throughout her early school years, Jemison grew very interested in science, especially astronomy. She spent hours in the library at her school reading about topics such as extinct animals, evolution, and astronomy. Her childhood of watching Star Trek and the televised lunar landing also fed her love of space and astronomy. She dreamed of being an astronaut. …show more content…
She graduated in 1973, and as a honors student, she was accepted into Stanford University at the age of sixteen on a National Achievement Scholarship. At Stanford, she studied a dual major in Chemical Engineering and African and Afro-American Studies. She also participated in many extracurricular activities including serving as the first female leader of the Black Student Union. After graduating from Stanford, she enrolled in Cornell University Medical College. While there, she studied abroad in Cuba and Kenya and worked at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand. Jemison then became the Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia where she taught and completed medical