Jose Hernandez’s journey from migrant worker to NASA astronaut

In this episode, we dive into the incredible journey of Jose Hernandez, who rose from humble beginnings as a migrant farmworker to become a NASA astronaut.

Born into a family of migrant workers in Mexico, Hernandez spent much of his childhood moving across the U.S. to follow seasonal crops. He didn’t learn English until he was 12, yet his fascination with science and dedication to education ultimately led him to earn degrees in electrical and computer engineering.

Despite 11 rejections from NASA, Hernandez never gave up on his dream of space travel. In 2004, he was finally selected in NASA’s 19th class of astronauts, and in 2009, he achieved his goal of becoming a crew member on the space shuttle.

His story of perseverance and resilience is so powerful that it inspired the 2023 film “A Million Miles Away,” where actor Michael Peña, known for his role in “The Martian,” brings Hernandez’s life to the big screen.

Hernandez credits his work as a migrant farmworker for instilling a strong work ethic and unwavering perseverance. His parents’ teachings about resilience became the foundation that kept him pushing forward despite the obstacles. Now he works to inspire Latino youth, encouraging them to see themselves represented in fields like science and space. He believes it’s important for Latino kids to see a role model who “looks like them” and “talks like them,” proving that with determination, they too can achieve their dreams.

Hernandez’s inspiring story of hard work, dedication and a journey that spans the fields of Mexico to the stars highlights the power of resilience and the importance of representation.