Jamie Johnson

Coming back to school after eight years was one of the biggest hurdles and hardest things I’ve ever done."

"I grew up in Tacoma and graduated from Washington High School. Back then, though, I was more focused on my friends than school. I spent the years after high school working as a dog groomer and raising my 8-year-old son. When my father passed away in 2014, it became important to me to live the life he knew I was capable of living. He was a graduate of TCC, and he always told me – you can have anything you want in life; you just have to make it happen!

So, I enrolled at TCC. Coming back to school after eight years was one of the biggest hurdles and hardest things I’ve ever done. It felt like I was jumping into the abyss of the unknown without knowing how to swim!

One of the first classes that I took was HD 101. It helped me explore careers and build on my strengths. I’ve always been drawn to astronomy and the vastness of space, and so I started looking into engineering. I also got involved in the TCC engineering club – the other students were really welcoming. That’s how it all started! I began taking engineering classes and have been so encouraged by the TCC faculty. I’m inspired by their excitement for their work. Their passion is infectious! It brings to the surface my own passion and desire for what I’m studying.

I’m currently on the All-Washington Academic Team and have been nominated for the All-USA Academic Team. I’ll graduate in the Spring of 2019 with an Associate of Science degree, and then I’ll transfer to complete my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering. My ultimate goal is to work for SpaceX and the Mars Project."