Ex-NASA astronaut shares his story at literacy summit

Lea este artículo en español aquí.

Former astronaut Jose Hernández shared his inspiring journey from migrant farmworker to orbiting around Earth at the Literacy in the 21st Century Summit at the Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister on Jan. 30.

After hearing Hernandez speak in Sacramento about the subject of “Million Miles Away,” a recent movie based on his life, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Mai Opeña-Cruz invited him to speak at the summit, sponsored by the San Benito County Office of Education. 

“I was really deeply moved and inspired by this talk,” Cruz said, “and it is an honor to bring him to our community.” 

Hernández said he came to California at 15 with his father, who was a field worker. Growing up in migrant camps, he still managed to attend college and later became an astronaut.

Hernández said that education is the great equalizer. 

“It’s okay to dream big, if you are willing to work hard,” he said. “Preparing yourself to help kids means getting a good education, so that you can convert their dreams to reality.” 

In 2009, he said, he flew aboard STS-128, a 13-day mission on Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station, where he was a flight engineer piloting the shuttle. 

The summit focused on a rapidly changing world and how educating youth in technology is among the tools they need to stay up to date. 

Hernández talked about the value of technology in education. 

“It’s very important to have reading and writing literacy,” he said. “We also need science and math to become fully literate, including digital literacy, and technical and analytical skills to use technology to our advantage.” 

He advised students to believe in themselves, persevere, and, more importantly, prepare for the challenges they choose.

“I think it’s an empowering process,” he said. “I tell them my story, I tell them the recipe I had, the strategy I have, and I hope it is a building block for them to each have their own rooms.” 

“We believe that literacy is actually a basic human right for every student in San Benito County,” Opeña-Cruz said. “And not students. Every individual in San Benito County should be able to be literate.”

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