PARLIER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The first Mexican-born woman to go to space is quite an accomplishment. But for Katya Echazarreta, an immigrant who came to this country in the third grade, her mission of making it to space was a lonely experience.
”I am a Mexican little girl saying the words one day I will travel to space and everyone around me is laughing,” said Echazarreta. “All I can tell all of you now is that nobody is laughing now.”
Since Echazarreta was 7 years old she had a dream of going to space and on June 4, 2022, her dream became a reality during her first mission on Blue Origins NS-21 flight, a trip 66 miles above Earth.
“When I finally made it out there and when I felt microgravity for the first time, when I saw planet Earth for the first time, of course, it’s the most beautiful experience you’re going to have in your life,” said Echazarreta. “But beyond that, it is such an honor, it is such a privilege. And you recognize that perfectly. I don’t take it lightly when I hear the words ‘first Mexican woman in space.’”
She came to speak to Parlier High School students about the power of dreams and the limitless possibilities of STEM education.
For one senior having someone who they can relate to come and speak to them is life-changing.
“It feels good because coming from a Mexican background and a similar story of my parents migrating from Mexico to give us a better education, to me and my siblings, and then seeing Kat giving her speech and sharing her story is impactful,” said Trinidad Andrade, a senior at Parlier High School. “I feel like it’s connecting with our hearts because we are a community of Hispanics with a similar background. Kat gives us more inspiration to chase our dreams, to never have that doubt in our head, and to push for something and know that we can achieve it.”
Echazarreta says speaking to students is important because she never had someone tell her just how hard it would be as an immigrant and as a woman.
“It’s always so special for me when I’m able to be in a room like this where pretty much everyone in here understands that immigrant struggle,” said Echazarreta. “Pretty much everyone in here knows what it’s like to have to leave their family behind, their culture behind, their language behind in search for better opportunities, in search for a better future, not just for themselves, but for everyone that comes after them in their own family life.”
Now seven months pregnant, Echazarreta will be working to get back in shape for another trip to space in the near future, while currently working on her mission to create space education in Mexico and Latin America.