1 00:00:04,004 --> 00:00:06,390 NASA Celebrates Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2 00:00:06,390 --> 00:00:07,390 Hello, everybody. 3 00:00:07,390 --> 00:00:08,349 Ni hao. 4 00:00:08,349 --> 00:00:09,379 Hi. Konnichiwa. 5 00:00:09,379 --> 00:00:10,529 Hello. Dai ga ho. 6 00:00:10,529 --> 00:00:12,400 Hello. My name is Wensheng Huang. 7 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,651 Ni holo ma. Ngoiyga miang hi Gee Mo Gay. 8 00:00:14,651 --> 00:00:16,250 Hi, I’m Kelly Busquets. 9 00:00:16,250 --> 00:00:18,230 I’m an engineer with the Goddard Space Flight Center. 10 00:00:18,230 --> 00:00:18,889 Mabuhay. 11 00:00:18,889 --> 00:00:21,622 My name is Tony Arviola and I work at Langley Research Center. 12 00:00:21,622 --> 00:00:22,770 My name is Kartik Sheth. 13 00:00:22,770 --> 00:00:26,220 I’m an Astrophysicist working in the Science Mission Directorate. 14 00:00:26,220 --> 00:00:27,140 This is Kinji Miki. 15 00:00:27,140 --> 00:00:28,570 My name is Jenny Staggs. 16 00:00:28,570 --> 00:00:29,570 My name is Steve Shih. 17 00:00:29,570 --> 00:00:33,609 I’m the Associate Administrator for Diversity and Equal Opportunity here at NASA. 18 00:00:33,609 --> 00:00:34,489 Ahnyeonghaseyo. 19 00:00:34,489 --> 00:00:39,120 Currently I’m rotating in as the communications lead for NASA’s Human Research Program, 20 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,800 but I am also a flight controller in Mission Control for the International Space Station. 21 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,250 I’m a research materials engineer. 22 00:00:45,250 --> 00:00:46,690 I’m a program analyst. 23 00:00:46,690 --> 00:00:48,010 I work as a software engineer. 24 00:00:48,010 --> 00:00:51,590 So I work in our Environmental Management Office in our Center Operations Directorate 25 00:00:51,590 --> 00:00:52,899 at Langley Research Center. 26 00:00:52,899 --> 00:00:54,990 I do research on electric propulsion. 27 00:00:54,990 --> 00:00:59,420 Electric propulsion is like that really futuristic stuff you see in SciFi movies where 28 00:00:59,420 --> 00:01:01,030 the rocket shoots out blue flames. 29 00:01:01,030 --> 00:01:06,760 I came here from Japan a long time ago hoping that I could work for NASA. 30 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:12,841 Actually this is my favorite picture that I kept near my desk for a long time. 31 00:01:12,841 --> 00:01:14,180 I am a proud American. 32 00:01:14,180 --> 00:01:16,270 I am proud to be an Asian American. 33 00:01:16,270 --> 00:01:19,301 And I am so proud to be a part of the NASA family. 34 00:01:19,301 --> 00:01:22,398 I am second-generation of Vietnamese and Taiwanese descent. 35 00:01:22,398 --> 00:01:23,648 I grew up in the Philippines. 36 00:01:23,648 --> 00:01:24,648 I’m Indian-American. 37 00:01:24,648 --> 00:01:25,568 I am Filipino, 38 00:01:25,568 --> 00:01:27,340 both of my parents are from the Philippines. 39 00:01:27,340 --> 00:01:28,480 I come from India. 40 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:33,189 I continue to ensure my children do not lose touch with their heritage by teaching them 41 00:01:33,189 --> 00:01:35,130 the language as well as English. 42 00:01:35,130 --> 00:01:43,930 I am really honored and blessed to be part of an organization that embraces diverse backgrounds. 43 00:01:43,930 --> 00:01:48,240 But never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be working at NASA. 44 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:53,000 When I came to Johnson Space Center, specifically, and was able to find that community, it was 45 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,200 so nice to, kind of, have that instant connection. 46 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,729 Space is a very unforgiving environment. 47 00:01:58,729 --> 00:02:04,130 It often takes a very diverse team of people to be able to overcome space challenges. 48 00:02:04,130 --> 00:02:08,220 I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work at an agency where our work 49 00:02:08,220 --> 00:02:10,067 benefits the entire world. 50 00:02:10,067 --> 00:02:14,769 So no matter what your background is, I say to you, if you are interested in doing space, 51 00:02:14,769 --> 00:02:16,760 there will be a place for you to contribute. 52 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:26,000 I am profoundly deaf, which makes me a unique person who is a deaf Asian employed at NASA. 53 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,319 I had to overcome both language and hearing barriers. 54 00:02:30,319 --> 00:02:33,730 I’m an ambitious woman and I do not let anyone discourage me. 55 00:02:33,730 --> 00:02:35,569 You notice my speaking, 56 00:02:35,569 --> 00:02:38,704 I have some speaking problems on top of a Japanese accent, 57 00:02:38,704 --> 00:02:42,980 but in NASA no one cares about it. 58 00:02:42,980 --> 00:02:45,180 They just care what I am doing. 59 00:02:45,180 --> 00:02:49,101 So it makes me very happy and proud of myself. One hundred percent. 60 00:02:49,101 --> 00:02:53,860 Make sure that you chase passion and not chase success. 61 00:02:53,860 --> 00:02:56,749 If you chase passion, success will follow. 62 00:02:56,749 --> 00:03:03,739 Follow your passion and dreams and always look to overcome obstacles, rather than running 63 00:03:03,739 --> 00:03:04,980 away from these. 64 00:03:04,980 --> 00:03:07,520 Visit as many different places as you possibly can. 65 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,049 Travel if you can, as well. 66 00:03:09,049 --> 00:03:12,220 It helps build out your perspectives, build out your world view. 67 00:03:12,220 --> 00:03:16,537 The theme for 2021 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is 68 00:03:16,537 --> 00:03:19,600 Advancing LeadersThrough Purpose-driven Service. 69 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:25,943 Thank you for joining us in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 70 00:03:25,943 --> 00:03:27,830 Happy AAPI Heritage Month. 71 00:03:27,830 --> 00:03:29,060 Daedahnhee kamsahamnida. 72 00:03:29,060 --> 00:03:30,129 Alright, thank you. 73 00:03:30,129 --> 00:03:30,835 Paalam. 74 00:03:30,835 --> 00:03:32,088 Zai jian. 75 00:03:32,088 --> 00:03:33,434 Namaste. Vanakkam. 76 00:03:33,434 --> 00:03:35,201 Bye bye. Joi gin. 77 00:03:35,201 --> 00:03:36,299 Arigato gozaimasu.