We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiera Fletcher and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tiera, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance seems to be the theme of my life. I am a rocket scientist, graduate student, author, teacher, mentor. business owner, wife and mother of two children, ages 2 years old and 8 months old. Finding a work life balance is vital for all aspects of my life and please note that I use the active verb tense to indicate that I am continuously finding a work life balance because the action is never stagnant. Once I believe that I have found an exact balance between family, engineering, writing, teaching, mentoring, learning and whatever else I may be doing at the time (!), the demands change and a shift is required to take place. With that being said, work life balance is a continuous act that never stops as long as I am pursuing my passions.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a structural design engineer working on NASA’s Space Launch System, the most powerful and largest rocket ever created in history, that will return humans to the Moon and then propel humans to Mars. After graduating from MIT in 2017 with my undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, I began my career working on this rocket in Huntsville, Alabama, known as “Rocket City.” I am most proud of the substantial impact this rocket will have on the course of human history. Getting to this point was by no means easy. Since the age of eleven, I have fought to become an aerospace engineer through hard work and perseverance in my education. There were multiple times in my life where people tried to stop my momentum to achieve my dreams of becoming a rocket scientist, but I had to lean on my supporters and motivators for the extra push to keep going. I have learned that not everyone is for you, and many may be against you, but God will always prevail. I had to learn to allow him to work in my life and truly understand the meaning of Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I realized that I could not achieve my goals within my own power, but through His power. Hence, the motto “Faith. Love. Rockets.” for the outreach business Rocket With The Fletchers that I formed with my husband and fellow rocket scientist, Myron Fletcher. Faith comes first.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Growing up five minutes from Six Flags Over Georgia my whole life, I would have to recommend the theme park for an action-packed Saturday. To listen to great music, dance, and eat really good food for the evening, Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint is the place to go. For awesome praise, worship and fellowship on Sunday morning, head to Word of Faith Family Cathedral, my home church, to be fed by the Word.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Throughout my life, I have benefited from the love and support of my family and my community. I would like to give a shoutout to my mother and my father for playing a huge role in forming me into the woman I am today. I would also like to give a shoutout to my husband and my two sons for their continuous support and push for me to improve each and everyday. My newly released book Wonder Women of Science, captures twelve amazing female scientists who I would also love to give a shoutout. These women are breaking barriers in their respective fields today, and they encourage me to dream bigger and do more to increase female representation in STEM fields.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocketwiththefletchers/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiera-fletcher-183a0046/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TieraAndMyron
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TieraAndMyron
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXhF7H2ZH4NEtStkcxpkR5g
Other: Wonder Women of Science by Tiera Fletcher and Ginger Rue: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671450/wonder-women-of-science-how-12-geniuses-are-rocking-science-technology-and-the-world-by-tiera-fletcher-and-ginger-rue/
Image Credits
Michael Schwarz, Chris Dowdell Photography, Images by the Hill Photography