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Photograph by Robert Scheer

John Wilmore worked as an intern at NASA Ames Research Center this summer through a United Cerebral Palsy Association program.

PathÞnder

Internship allows teen to explore career in space

By Katherine Petersen

John Wilmore, 17, never dreamed he would find himself working as a summer intern in the Planetary Systems Branch of NASA Ames Research Center.

Wilmore, who has Tourette's syndrome, got the internship through a collaborative effort between Ames Research Center and the United Cerebral Palsy Association of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

Wilmore wanted to work on space projects and work with computers. Six weeks at Ames confirmed his career ambition.

Wilmore doesn't believe Tourette's syndrome affects his ability to work. The disease causes blinking and other facial tics but can be controlled for the most part by medication.

"Kids used to tease me when I was little, but now people just ask questions and pretty much accept me," Wilmore said. "Questions might come up, but I don't foresee it as a big problem."

He spent a lot of time interviewing people who work on different space projects and wrote short biographies on each for an Ames Space Science Division Web page.

Wilmore, who has an interest in astronomy, found himself surrounded by scientific discussion. In one room, scientists would be studying "galactic modeling," while down the hall, others were analyzing atmospheric data, he said.

"I really enjoyed being able to talk with these people who are doing this amazing stuff that I'll hopefully be doing at some point," he said.

"I've learned that there's a lot more going on here than I thought."

Wilmore hoped to have a chance to interview some of the scientists involved with the Mars Pathfinder experiment before completing his internship Aug. 8.

Wilmore works part time at Orion Telescope Center in Cupertino, where he keeps up to speed on new telescopic equipment and sells products to customers.

Wilmore hopes his experience at NASA will enable him to work with space programs in some capacity.

United Cerebral Palsy received $60,000 in grants for two years from Ames to get its program, High School/High Tech, started. The program is geared toward helping students with disabilities explore different career options in science, engineering and technology, said UCP's Lynn Spencer. The program is a community partnership of students, educators, professionals, business representatives, parents and others, Spencer said.

Students qualified for the program were chosen by their schools and could either have an internship or attend classes to learn about job-hunting skills and their rights as disabled people at San Jose City College, Spencer said.

"There's a mix of learning experiences available to broaden the horizons of these students," Spencer said. "Many students don't know their options and don't know that certain careers are open to them."

For instance, one student recently suffered a fall during a gymnastics routine and become a quadriplegic. For his whole life he had wanted to be a police officer, but discovered a new angle on this career. He will study to work in forensics instead of trying to be an officer on the street, she said.

Wilmore said the program has opened pathways for him as well.

"[My internship] has meant a lot because a while ago, I would have been happy having a job anywhere," he said. "Now I'm working here, and this is what I really want. I guess I can do it."

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, August 13, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.