Amanda Watson...

I am a senior at Mississippi State University. My major is Banking and Finance. That’s right…you don’t have to be an engineer to work at NASA! I have lived in Mississippi my whole life so that makes me a true southern belle! At school I am involved in several different organizations such as: Phi Mu sorority, MSU Student Government, Campus Crusades for Christ, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society treasurer, Gamma Beta Phi Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. I love to dance, take road trips, read, travel, and go to the beach.

Mardi Gras

Co-oping at NASA has been one of the best experiences of my life!! You gain real work experience, meet legendary people, take tours of everything onsite here at JSC, as well as have a ton of fun! As a co-op you alternate work and school every other semester which puts you behind a year graduating, but it is completely worth it. It is so nice to take a break from classes and actually apply what you have learned in the classroom as well as make a little money.

In front of the new model

I am currently on my fourth tour here at JSC. During my first tour I worked with some of NASA’s finest budget analyst in the International Space Station Resources office. I was responsible for tracking the travel dollars spent in the current fiscal year budget and presenting a cost status chart every month. On second work tour I took a break from the Finance life and working in NASA’s Education/Outreach department. My main project was close captioning videos for the web. I also worked with different engineering groups to come up with an outreach strategy and helped design a bookmark that will be handed out to kids. I had the chance to work as a contract specialist in the procurement office during my third tour. I was responsible for putting together the contracts for small purchase orders. I am currently wrapping up my fourth and final tour in the Engineering Resources office where I am helping to prepare the next fiscal year. Working at NASA you get to experience different career paths that are available to you.

Kim and I at Minute Maid Park

One thing that you might be worried about is leaving home and coming to a huge city where you don’t know anyone. That should absolutely be the least of your concerns. During the spring and fall semesters there are around 50 other co-op students here that immediately become your second family. NASA will even put you in contact with a roommate and help you find a place to live. There has not been one night here that I have not had something to do and tons of people to hang out with. We take road trips together, go camping, play intramural sports, watch movies and plays, go out to eat almost every night, and you get the idea. We do everything together and we have so much fun! There is no time to get homesick, that’s for sure.

Duck and I at a halloween party

If you have any questions…I have the answers! Please feel free to email me. You can reach me at amanda.g.watson@nasa.gov until December 1, 2006 and at school at amandagwatson@aol.com.

At the rodeo