Snapshots, part of the Telling The ATEC Story series, are Q&A conversations with ATEC employees sharing their background and what motivates them every day to pursue the ATEC mission. This month we profile Faith Gonzalez, a climatics test engineer with the Environmental Component Test Directorate, Redstone Test Center, who loves volunteering and explains how a 7th grade teacher changed her life forever.
Describe yourself in three words. Optimistic. Determined. Imaginative.
What is your dream job? After medically failing the Army and the Peace Corps, engineering became my dream job.
In what city did you grow up? El Paso, Texas.
What book has had the greatest impact on you? “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. It's about a dying engineering professor who implored all of his students to take better care of themselves.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut.
What famous person would you most like to meet? David Attenborough. He’s a nature conservationist, British broadcaster, biologist, natural historian, and writer.
What was your first job? I worked at the Systems Management and Production Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville doing undergraduate research.
What is your favorite part of your current job? Being able to work with people every day.
What do you actually do at your job? My division focuses on climatics, but my primary focus is in missile modification and working with rapid prototyping programs.
What is your greatest accomplishment? I feel maybe it’s just getting up and trying every day.
Who are your heroes? My parents.
Do you have a motto you live by? Keep moving forward.
What would you choose as your last meal? My grandmother’s homemade soup.
Who would you invite to your dream party? Steve Irwin (Crocodile Hunter) and Bob Ross (The Painter).
What three items would you want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island (other than food and water)? A tiny library of books, records and albums, and a hand-cranked record player.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I would visit Vanuatu. It's the world's most active volcano.
What profession would you never try? Accounting.
What is something nobody knows about you? I volunteer a lot in my free time. I work with the Helping Hands of Huntsville. It’s a nonprofit organization that helps recent immigrants to America secure the things they need, such as food and furniture.
What if you could solve one major problem? What would it be? Hunger and greed.
What's one thing you can't live without? I paint a lot and couldn't live without my paints.
If you could give your 15-year-old self advice, what would it be? To stay positive. Things usually work out, so you'll be okay.
What's the best piece of advice you have been given? Don't forget where you came from or the people who helped you get there.
What's your biggest fear? Not being able to help the people I love the most.
What’s the best gift you have ever been given? The gift of life.
Name one person who has inspired you in your life. My dad.
Do you make up jokes or steal them? Oh, I steal them for sure!
Who is your favorite teacher and why? Mr. Jacquez. He wasn’t my teacher. He was just a teacher who taught history at the school. When I was in the 7th grade, I was caught ditching school and was about to be expelled. The day we were ditching, Mr. Jacquez pulled us aside and said he was going to give us a free pizza party. It was a ploy to keep us at school, but it was also an opportunity for him to encourage students to volunteer at a local women's abuse center. That's what I ended up doing. That's when I realized life's pretty good. After that, I loved volunteering. Mr. Jacquez completely changed my life. It only takes that one person.
If you hosted a talk show, who would be your first guest? Danny DeVito.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have? Empathy.
What skill would you like to master? Communication.
If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you win a medal in? Tetris. I play competitively.
What song best describes your work ethic? “Dancing Queen” by Abba. I'm usually really happy and I like to dance while I'm working.
What is the strangest thing you've ever eaten? Dried worms.
What would you do with your 15 minutes of fame? I would tell the world how awesome my grandmother is, and to appreciate grandmothers everywhere.
How would your grade school teachers describe you? Loud. Hyperactive. Happy.
If you could send a message to the entire world, what would you say in 30 seconds? I would tell people to be kinder to each other and the Earth. We’re all in this world together.
If you received enough money to never need to work again, what would you spend your time doing? I love trees, so I would plant more trees.
If you could go back in time once and change a single thing, what would it be? Prevent the burning of the Library of Alexandria.
What moment in your life would you most like to go back and relive? The day my dad unexpectedly came home for Christmas. My dad was a Patriot Missile mechanic, and he had been deployed for two years. It was the first time in two years the entire family was together.
If you could know the answer to one of life's mysteries, which mystery would you choose? Why are we here?
When was the last time you cried? Recently. There's a motivational hotline out of California called the Peptoc Hotline. Elementary students give out motivational quotes and encouraging messages to anyone who calls in. The number is 707-8PEPTOC (707-873-7862).
What fad do you wish would come back or stay gone forever? I wish bell bottoms would come back.
Do you have any guilty pleasures? I love to eat chocolate. I'm addicted. Once I start, I can't stop.
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