iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Growing up, we all have many dreams on what we want to become when we grow up. While some stick to their dreams and achieve them, many fail.
Likewise, when the Indian American astronaut, Sunita L Williams was growing up in Needham, she wanted to be a veterinarian. But it didn’t come true. In an interview, once she had humorously said, “I’m a failure,” she said.
But now to honor her achievement, the elementary school where she studied will be renamed in her name.
So much for failure. Because Sunitha is not just your average astronaut, she holds the record for a cumulative spacewalking time by clocking in at 50 hours and 40 minutes, according to NASA. In addition to that, she is ranked sixth on the all-time US endurance list, and second all-time as a female.
“Sunita represents a woman in the STEM field … which is important for young women in the country to see other women involved in,” Heidi Black, chair of the Needham School Committee, told NBC News.
Williams is one of two Asian Americans in NASA’s astronaut, which consists of 44 active astronauts.
In 1998, Williams was selected as an astronaut by NASA, has spent a total of 322 days in space and previously served in the Navy, NASA public affairs specialist Brandi Dean told NBC News.
The school being rebuilt will replace the old elementary school, Sunitha attended as a child.
Williams said that having an elementary school in her hometown named after her is humbling and overwhelming.
“I hope this will be a new spark and addition to the town. I’m excited for the future of the students there and I hope it opens up their eyes to even greater possibilities than what was obvious from when I was there,” she told Needham Wicked Local.
