From the Theatre to Mars with Dr. Aomawa Shields

Career Shift

Aomawa Shields shares her journey from acting back to astronomy, driven by a longing for the stars. Despite her initial pursuit of acting, the cosmic allure remained strong, often pulling her gaze skyward even amidst the smog of Los Angeles 1. Her transition was not just a response to external advice but also an internal realization of her true passion. Shields reflects on her diverse educational background, noting, "If I had known, really known, what I wanted to do, there's nothing that would have stopped me from doing it" 2.

   

Forces at Play

The interplay of internal and external forces significantly shaped Aomawa Shields's career path. She faced societal expectations and personal interests, which sometimes led to feelings of imposter syndrome, especially as an African American woman in a predominantly white field 3. Shields emphasizes the importance of exploring for the sake of discovery rather than altering planets to fit human needs. She states, "I'd like to fix Earth, and I'd like to explore for the sake of exploring, not for the sake of changing to fit our standards" 4.