Katherine Johnson - Hidden Figures

“I don't have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I'm as good as anybody, but no better.”

Recently brought to light due to the famous, true and emotional film, Hidden Figures, Katherine Johnson’s story helped shape the lives of many today. Katherine is a coloured woman who thrived in a white male-dominated society. Katherine broke all the boundaries while working for NASA, aiding in many space missions. Her greatest and most noticeable achievement as an exemplary mathematician was the successful calculation of the trajectory needed to get the Apollo 11 Mission to the moon and back. This feat was demonstrated in the movie. 

Living in today’s world we are have two options: either conform to society or break the boundaries put on us. Katherine chose the latter. Instead of being bound to the stereotypes of the time and the standards expected for a woman of colour, Katherine refused to let these define her. While her journey was anything but easy, she persevered.

Our life is what we make it, not anyone else. Katherine is a clear depiction of this. She is a role model to not only women and those of colour, but to anyone who feels they are moulded into something else. Katherine teaches us that we are responsible for expressing our talents and reaching for our dreams.

To our students at HGHS, we learn the importance of individuality and the expression of our talents from examples such as Katherine. Whether it be in Math, Science, Art, English or a sport, each and every student has their own strengths in and outside of the classroom and these talents need to be expressed.

“Like what you do, and then you will do your best.”