Denver native Taletha Fitzpatrick describes herself as a problem-solver who "keeps moving forward" no matter what. After graduating from the Aerospace Physics program at Metropolitan State University of Denver, she joined Jeppesen Sanderson, Inc., where she works as a Quality Systems Specialist. Her story is an inspiration for anyone pursuing a STEM career or considering a major career transition.
1) Where did you grow up and attend school? What is your family like?
I graduated from George Washington High School with an International Baccalaureate diploma. I was raised as the only child of a single mother, but enjoyed a close-knit extended family.
2) How did you find your way to your career path?
I pursued the arts for the majority of my life. I was an accomplished musician from elementary school and through high school. I began my university education at the University of Colorado as a music major. But on-going issues with anxiety and depression, which stemmed from a chaotic home life, resulted in such powerful performance anxiety that I couldn't get to my classes.
I left college in 1999 and didn't return until 2009. I continued my education in music at Indiana University Southeast (New Albany, IN), but felt that I wanted to find a field of study that was more challenging and would serve me better financially. I had been interested in science from a very young age. As a matter of fact, my first career choice as a child (besides rock star) was astronaut. While in elementary school, I was selected to travel to another school periodically to learn all about astronomy. That was one of my best childhood memories, and the desire to learn all about the universe and how it works was still there.
I excelled so easily in the arts: drawing, writing, music, you name it; that seemed to be what I was destined for. I found myself at a crossroads, however. I could finish my bachelor's in music and go from there. Or I could take a chance on science!
I spoke with a friend of mine who was a Physics graduate student at Purdue University at the time. I wanted to get a feel for physics and see if the conversations I had with someone in the field would engage me enough to want to study it. Those conversations inspired me. And while I knew it was going to be very difficult to change my path, I decided to do it.
I was right. It was hard. I had to retake some math that I had taken (and forgotten) in high school. I then had to continue my math studies into Differential Equations. Many times I wouldn't learn the math I needed for a Physics class until the semester after I had already muddled through the Physics class. My undertaking was made much more arduous by the fact that I was on a medication that made it nearly impossible to remember day-to-day activities, let alone how to solve for the age of the universe using the universal constant. I was an artist in my thirties, going to school full time and working what amounted to two part time jobs. I was in an emotionally abusive relationship. The ends weren't meeting most of the time and my homework was all that I had time for when I wasn't working or in class.
It almost kicked my butt entirely. But I was determined. And I knew that any little bit I did understand and retain would make me a much stronger and more fulfilled person in the long run.
In the end, it was worth it. As a Quality Systems Specialist, I have the opportunity to learn about the entire company by taking a look at how each department's processes fit into the quality management system to ensure high quality products and services.
3) Who in your life served as a role model, mentor, and/or support system?
The thing about the Aviation and Aerospace Science department at Metro is that everyone is excited about what they are doing there. That comes from a having a group of instructors who have a true passion for what they do and from Dr. Jeffrey Forrest, the department's chair, who is always there to provide encouragement and help me make it happen. Near the end, when I couldn't have possibly been more exhausted, he was always there to provide that extra push and remind me that I was doing something extraordinary.
If it wasn't for Dr. Forrest, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to become published with only a bachelor's under my belt. Just last month, the combined efforts of myself, Dr. Forrest, David Gingerich (a professor and aerospace professional) and Andrei Abiin (another student), paid off with our Russian r-16 Nedelin Disaster paper being published in the Journal of Space Safety Engineering.
I would also be negligent not to mention one of the hardest professors I've ever had, Dr. Jim Dove. I felt like the worst physics student ever in every single one of his classes. I remember sending him an e-mail to that effect when all was said and done. He told me not to beat myself up, that he had seen students do far worse with far less on their plates. That doesn't seem like much at face value. But it was the truth coming from one of the most exceptional people I've ever met.
4) What are your upcoming plans?
This summer, along with taking Six Sigma Green Belt classes [one of the highest certification levels in quality control], I will have the opportunity to return to school where I will pursue a master's degree. I have not yet decided if I will enter a space systems or systems engineering program or if I will take on another hefty course load in a physics program. I believe the market will have me leaning more towards an engineering master's.
5) What message or advice would you give to other girls/women pursuing STEM careers, or to those who come from a similar background?
As a wise woman once said, "just keep swimming!"
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1) Where did you grow up and attend school? What is your family like?
I graduated from George Washington High School with an International Baccalaureate diploma. I was raised as the only child of a single mother, but enjoyed a close-knit extended family.
2) How did you find your way to your career path?
I pursued the arts for the majority of my life. I was an accomplished musician from elementary school and through high school. I began my university education at the University of Colorado as a music major. But on-going issues with anxiety and depression, which stemmed from a chaotic home life, resulted in such powerful performance anxiety that I couldn't get to my classes.
I left college in 1999 and didn't return until 2009. I continued my education in music at Indiana University Southeast (New Albany, IN), but felt that I wanted to find a field of study that was more challenging and would serve me better financially. I had been interested in science from a very young age. As a matter of fact, my first career choice as a child (besides rock star) was astronaut. While in elementary school, I was selected to travel to another school periodically to learn all about astronomy. That was one of my best childhood memories, and the desire to learn all about the universe and how it works was still there.
I excelled so easily in the arts: drawing, writing, music, you name it; that seemed to be what I was destined for. I found myself at a crossroads, however. I could finish my bachelor's in music and go from there. Or I could take a chance on science!
I spoke with a friend of mine who was a Physics graduate student at Purdue University at the time. I wanted to get a feel for physics and see if the conversations I had with someone in the field would engage me enough to want to study it. Those conversations inspired me. And while I knew it was going to be very difficult to change my path, I decided to do it.
I was right. It was hard. I had to retake some math that I had taken (and forgotten) in high school. I then had to continue my math studies into Differential Equations. Many times I wouldn't learn the math I needed for a Physics class until the semester after I had already muddled through the Physics class. My undertaking was made much more arduous by the fact that I was on a medication that made it nearly impossible to remember day-to-day activities, let alone how to solve for the age of the universe using the universal constant. I was an artist in my thirties, going to school full time and working what amounted to two part time jobs. I was in an emotionally abusive relationship. The ends weren't meeting most of the time and my homework was all that I had time for when I wasn't working or in class.
It almost kicked my butt entirely. But I was determined. And I knew that any little bit I did understand and retain would make me a much stronger and more fulfilled person in the long run.
In the end, it was worth it. As a Quality Systems Specialist, I have the opportunity to learn about the entire company by taking a look at how each department's processes fit into the quality management system to ensure high quality products and services.
3) Who in your life served as a role model, mentor, and/or support system?
The thing about the Aviation and Aerospace Science department at Metro is that everyone is excited about what they are doing there. That comes from a having a group of instructors who have a true passion for what they do and from Dr. Jeffrey Forrest, the department's chair, who is always there to provide encouragement and help me make it happen. Near the end, when I couldn't have possibly been more exhausted, he was always there to provide that extra push and remind me that I was doing something extraordinary.
If it wasn't for Dr. Forrest, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to become published with only a bachelor's under my belt. Just last month, the combined efforts of myself, Dr. Forrest, David Gingerich (a professor and aerospace professional) and Andrei Abiin (another student), paid off with our Russian r-16 Nedelin Disaster paper being published in the Journal of Space Safety Engineering.
I would also be negligent not to mention one of the hardest professors I've ever had, Dr. Jim Dove. I felt like the worst physics student ever in every single one of his classes. I remember sending him an e-mail to that effect when all was said and done. He told me not to beat myself up, that he had seen students do far worse with far less on their plates. That doesn't seem like much at face value. But it was the truth coming from one of the most exceptional people I've ever met.
4) What are your upcoming plans?
This summer, along with taking Six Sigma Green Belt classes [one of the highest certification levels in quality control], I will have the opportunity to return to school where I will pursue a master's degree. I have not yet decided if I will enter a space systems or systems engineering program or if I will take on another hefty course load in a physics program. I believe the market will have me leaning more towards an engineering master's.
5) What message or advice would you give to other girls/women pursuing STEM careers, or to those who come from a similar background?
As a wise woman once said, "just keep swimming!"
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