By Holly Walker
“John Tyler helped me realize that with hard work, motivation, support, and contacts, my goals can be reached. I also found that many people are out there to help someone succeed. This school gave me hope for the future.” – Monica Dibley
When asked about her dream employer, Monica Dibley answers without hesitation, “NASA.” She firmly focused her attention on that goal as she pursued a General Studies, Science Specialization degree at John Tyler Community College.
Before enrolling in Tyler, Monica spent a couple of years, right after high school, working as a LPN. While she respected the work, she discovered it was not the right fit for her and decided to consider new options.
She chose Tyler so she could save money while exploring some of her other interests. She quickly found herself drawn to science and math, subjects that always interested her. She also discovered an exciting opportunity – the chance to apply for the Virginia Space Grant Consortium’s STEM Takes Flight NASA Research Experiences program. Monica was accepted into the 2017 summer program and spent several weeks as a guest student researcher at the NASA Langley Research Center.
Next up for Monica – the College of William and Mary or Christopher Newport University. She’s been accepted to both and is now weighing her options, as she makes plan to continue studying science. She hopes to eventually earn a doctorate and launch her dream career at NASA.